Method of diagnosing neoplasms

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to a nucleic acid molecule, the RNA and protein expression profiles of which are indicative of the onset, predisposition to the onset and/or progression of a large intestine neoplasm. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a nucleic acid molecule, the expression profiles of which are indicative of the onset and/or progression of a colorectal neoplasm, such as an adenoma or an adenocarcinoma. The expression profiles of the present invention are useful in a range of applications including, but not limited to, those relating to the diagnosis and/or monitoring of colorectal neoplasms, such as colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas. Accordingly, in a related aspect the present invention is directed to a method of screening a subject for the onset, predisposition to the onset and/or progression of a large intestine neoplasm by screening for modulation in the expression profile of said nucleic acid molecule markers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a nucleic acid molecule, the RNA and protein expression profiles of which are indicative of the onset, predisposition to the onset and/or progression of a large intestine neoplasm. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a nucleic acid molecule, the expression profiles of which are indicative of the onset and/or progression of a colorectal neoplasm, such as an adenoma or an adenocarcinoma. The expression profiles of the present invention are useful in a range of applications including, but not limited to, those relating to the diagnosis and/or monitoring of colorectal neoplasms, such as colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas.

Accordingly, in a related aspect the present invention is directed to a method of screening a subject for the onset, predisposition to the onset and/or progression of a large intestine neoplasm by screening for modulation in the expression profile of said nucleic acid molecule markers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bibliographic details of the publications referred to by author in this specification are collected alphabetically at the end of the description.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Adenomas are benign tumours, or neoplasms, of epithelial origin which are derived from glandular tissue or exhibit clearly defined glandular structures. Some adenomas show recognisable tissue elements, such as fibrous tissue (fibroadenomas) and epithelial structure, while others, such as bronchial adenomas, produce active compounds that might give rise to clinical syndromes.

Adenomas may progress to become an invasive neoplasm and are then termed adenocarcinomas. Accordingly, adenocarcinomas are defined as malignant epithelial tumours arising from glandular structures, which are constituent parts of many organs of the body. The term adenocarcinoma is also applied to tumours showing a glandular growth pattern. These tumours may be sub-classified according to the substances that they produce, for example mucus secreting and serous adenocarcinomas, or to the microscopic arrangement of their cells into patterns, for example papillary and follicular adenocarcinomas. These carcinomas may be solid or cystic (cystadenocarcinomas). Each organ may produce tumours showing a variety of histological types, for example the ovary may produce both mucinous and cystadenocarcinoma.

Adenomas in different organs behave differently. In general, the overall chance of carcinoma being present within an adenoma (i.e. a focus of cancer having developed within a benign lesion) is approximately 5%. However, this is related to size of an adenoma. For instance, in the large bowel (colon and rectum specifically) occurrence of a cancer within an adenoma is rare in adenomas of less than 1 centimetre. Such a development is estimated at 40 to 50% in adenomas which are greater than 4 centimetres and show certain histopathological change such as villous change, or high grade dysplasia. Adenomas with higher degrees of dysplasia have a higher incidence of carcinoma. In any given colorectal adenoma, the predictors of the presence of cancer now or the future occurrence of cancer in the organ include size (especially greater than 9 mm) degree of change from tubular to villous morphology, presence of high grade dysplasia and the morphological change described as “serrated adenoma”. In any given individual, the additional features of increasing age, familial occurrence of colorectal adenoma or cancer, male gender or multiplicity of adenomas, predict a future increased risk for cancer in the organ—so-called risk factors for cancer. Except for the presence of adenomas and its size, none of these is objectively defined and all those other than number and size are subject to observer error and to confusion as to precise definition of the feature in question. Because such factors can be difficult to assess and define, their value as predictors of current or future risk for cancer is imprecise.

Once a sporadic adenoma has developed, the chance of a new adenoma occurring is approximately 30% within 26 months.

Colorectal adenomas represent a class of adenomas which are exhibiting an increasing incidence, particularly in more affluent countries. The causes of adenoma, and of progression to adenocarcinoma, are still the subject of intensive research. To date it has been speculated that in addition to genetic predisposition, environmental factors (such as diet) play a role in the development of this condition. Most studies indicate that the relevant environmental factors relate to high dietary fat, low fibre, low vegetable intake, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and high refined carbohydrates.

Colonic adenomas are localised areas of dysplastic epithelium which initially involve just one or several crypts and may not protrude from the surface, but with increased growth in size, usually resulting from an imbalance in proliferation and/or apoptosis, they may protrude. Adenomas can be classified in several ways. One is by their gross appearance and the major descriptors include degrees of protrusion: flat sessile (i.e. protruding but without a distinct stalk) or pedunculated (i.e. having a stalk). Other gross descriptors include actual size in the largest dimension and actual number in the colon/rectum. While small adenomas (less than say 5 or 10 millimetres) exhibit a smooth tan surface, pedunculated and especially larger adenomas tend to have a cobblestone or lobulated red-brown surface. Larger sessile adenomas may exhibit a more delicate villous surface. Another set of descriptors include the histopathological classification; the prime descriptors of clinical value include degree of dysplasia (low or high), whether or not a focus of invasive cancer is present, degree of change from tubular gland formation to villous gland formation (hence classification is tubular, villous or tubulovillous), presence of admixed hyperplastic change and of so-called “serrated” adenomas and its subgroups. Adenomas can be situated at any site in the colon and/or rectum although they tend to be more common in the rectum and distal colon. All of these descriptors, with the exception of number and size, are relatively subjective and subject to interobserver disagreement.

The various descriptive features of adenomas are of value not just to ascertain the neoplastic status of any given adenomas when detected, but also to predict a person's future risk of developing colorectal adenomas or cancer. Those features of an adenoma or number of adenomas in an individual that point to an increased future risk for cancer or recurrence of new adenomas include: size of the largest adenoma (especially 10 mm or larger), degree of villous change (especially at least 25% such change and particularly 100% such change), high grade dysplasia, number (3 or more of any size or histological status) or presence of serrated adenoma features. None except size or number is objective and all are relatively subjective and subject to interobserver disagreement. These predictors of risk for future neoplasia (hence “risk”) are vital in practice because they are used to determine the rate and need for and frequency of future colonoscopic surveillance. More accurate risk classification might thus reduce workload of colonoscopy, make it more cost-effective and reduce the risk of complications from unnecessary procedures.

Adenomas are generally asymptomatic, therefore rendering difficult their diagnosis and treatment at a stage prior to when they might develop invasive characteristics and so became cancer. It is technically impossible to predict the presence or absence of carcinoma based on the gross appearance of adenomas, although larger adenomas are more likely to show a region of malignant change than are smaller adenomas. Sessile adenomas exhibit a higher incidence of malignancy than pedunculated adenomas of the same size. Some adenomas result in blood loss which might be observed or detectable in the stools; while sometimes visible by eye, it is often, when it occurs, microscopic or “occult”. Larger adenomas tend to bleed more than smaller adenomas. However, since blood in the stool, whether overt or occult, can also be indicative of non-adenomatous conditions, the accurate diagnosis of adenoma is rendered difficult without the application of highly invasive procedures such as colonoscopy combined with tissue acquisition by either removal (i.e. polypectomy) or biopsy and subsequent histopathological analysis.

Accordingly, there is an on-going need to elucidate the causes of adenoma and to develop more informative diagnostic protocols or aids to diagnosis that enable one to direct colonoscopy at people more likely to have adenomas. These adenomas may be high risk, advanced or neither of these. Furthermore, it can be difficult after colonoscopy to be certain that all adenomas have been removed, especially in a person who has had multiple adenomas. An accurate screening test may minimise the need to undertake an early second colonoscopy to ensure that the colon has been cleared of neoplasms. Accordingly, the identification of molecular markers for adenomas would provide means for understanding the cause of adenomas and cancer, improving diagnosis of adenomas including development of useful screening tests, elucidating the histological stage of an adenoma, characterising a patient's future risk for colorectal neoplasia on the basis of the molecular state of an adenoma and facilitating treatment of adenomas.

To date, research has focused on the identification of gene mutations which lead to the development of colorectal neoplasms. In work leading up to the present invention, however, it has been determined that changes in expression profiles of genes which may also expressed in healthy individuals are indicative of the development of neoplasms of the large intestine, such as adenomas and adenocarcinomas. More specifically, there has been identified a gene, an increase in the expression of which is indicative of the onset of a large intestine adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Yet more particularly, it has been determined that this gene, which comprises SEQ ID NO:1 and is herein called hCG_(—)1815491, encodes 18 identified exon segments, several of which are expressed in two or more splice variants forms. hCG_(—)1815491 has now been found to transcribe to at least 11 variant RNA transcript forms. It has still further been determined that although the levels of multiple transcribed forms of hCG_(—)1815491 show some level of increase in expression in the context of neoplasia development, hCG_(—)1815491 is, in fact, alternatively spliced in a neoplastic specific manner, thereby enabling a level of diagnostic and prognostic discrimination which is rarely available in the context of a single gene and has been unavailable in terms of the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasias. The findings of the present invention have therefore facilitated the development of a screening method to diagnose the onset, or predisposition thereto, of adenocarcinoma, adenoma and/or the monitoring of conditions characterised by the development of these types of neoplasms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

As used herein, the term “derived from” shall be taken to indicate that a particular integer or group of integers has originated from the species specified, but has not necessarily been obtained directly from the specified source. Further, as used herein the singular forms of “a”, “and” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

The subject specification contains amino acid and nucleotide sequence information prepared using the programme PatentIn Version 3.4, presented herein after the bibliography. Each amino acid and nucleotide sequence is identified in the sequence listing by the numeric indicator <210> followed by the sequence identifier (eg. <210>1, <210>2, etc). The length, type of sequence (amino acid, DNA, etc.) and source organism for each sequence is indicated by information provided in the numeric indicator fields <211>m<212> and <213>, respectively. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences referred to in the specification are identified by the indicator SEQ ID NO: followed by the sequence identifier (eg. SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 2, etc). The sequence identifier referred to in the specification correlates to the information provided in numeric indicator field <400> in the sequence listing, which is followed by the sequence identifier (eg. <400>1, <400>2, etc). That is SEQ ID NO: 1 as detailed in the specification correlates to the sequence indicated as <400>1 in the sequence listing.

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of hCG_(—)1815491 in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of hCG_(—)1815491 or variant thereof relative to control levels is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

The present invention more particularly provides a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of a gene comprising a sequence of nucleotides as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity to SEQ ID NO:1 across the length of the gene, or variant of SEQ ID NO:1, in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of said gene or variant thereof relative to control levels is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of one or more RNA transcripts, which transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:23, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (v) SEQ ID NO:25, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25; -   (vi) SEQ ID NO:26, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:26; -   (vii) SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (viii) SEQ ID NO:28, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:28; -   (ix) SEQ ID NO:29, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:29; -   (x) SEQ ID NO:30, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; -   (xi) SEQ ID NO:31, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

In still another aspect the RNA transcript, the level of expression of which is assessed in accordance with the method of the present invention, is one or more of the transcripts characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; -   (v) SEQ ID NO:23, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; -   (vi) SEQ ID NO:30, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; -   (vii) SEQ ID NO:31, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31; -   (viii) SEQ ID NO:25, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25.

In yet another aspect said RNA transcript is one or more of the transcripts characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22.

In a further aspect there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from:

-   (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:2, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:2; -   (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:3, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:3 -   (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:4; -   (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:5; -   (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:6; -   (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:7; -   (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:8; -   (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:9; -   (ix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:10; -   (x) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:11; -   (xi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:12 -   (xii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:13 -   (xiii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:14 -   (xiv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:15, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:15 -   (xv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:16, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:16 -   (xvi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:17, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:17 -   (xvii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:18 -   (xviii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:19, or a sequence     having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:19; or -   (xix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:20, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:20     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

More particularly there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from:

-   (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:3, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:3 -   (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:4; -   (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:5; -   (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:6; -   (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:7; -   (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:8; -   (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:9; or -   (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:10; -   (ix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:11; -   (x) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:12; -   (xi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:13; -   (xii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:14; -   (xiii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:15, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:15; -   (xiv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:18; -   (xv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:19, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:19     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Yet more particularly there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript selected from:

-   (i) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12; -   (ii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14; -   (iii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:6; -   (iv) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a     sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these     sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID     NO:18; -   (v) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:7; -   (vi) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence     having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences,     or variants of SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:13; -   (vii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8; -   (viii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:18; -   (ix) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:18; -   (x) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:9; or -   (xi) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Still more particularly there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript is selected from:

-   (i) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12; -   (ii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14; -   (iii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID     NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the     length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID     NO:12, SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID NO:24; or -   (iv) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8.     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

In another further aspect, there is therefore provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of one or more RNA transcripts, which transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:24 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:25 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:26 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:26; -   (v) SEQ ID NO:27 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (vi) SEQ ID NO:29 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:29; -   (vii) SEQ ID NO:30 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; or -   (viii) SEQ ID NO:31 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31;     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of expression of the genes or transcripts of group (i) and/or     group (ii) relative to background levels is indicative of a     neoplastic cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic     state.

In yet another aspect said transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:22 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:23 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:24 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; or -   (v) SEQ ID NO:27 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27;     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of expression of the genes or transcripts of group (i) and/or     group (ii) relative to background levels is indicative of a     neoplastic cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic     state.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a diagnostic kit for assaying biological samples comprising an agent for detecting one or more neoplastic marker reagents useful for facilitating the detection by the agent in the first compartment. Further means may also be included, for example, to receive a biological sample. The agent may be any suitable detecting molecule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Detection of hCG_(—)1815491 gene expression. The expression from hCG_(—)1815491 in colon tissue specimens from 222 non-diseased controls (black, area designated with an “N”), 42 colitis tissues (red, are designated by an “I”), 29 adenoma (green, area designated by an “A”) and 161 adenocarcinoma (blue, area designated by “Ca”) were measured by hybridization to Affymetrix probeset IDs 238021_s_at (A) and 238022_at (B). The two Affymetrix probeset IDs were included on the commercially available Affymetrix GeneChip HGU133A & HGU13B. Gene expression profiles from RNA extracted from the total of 454 colon tissue specimens were obtained from GeneLogic Inc (Gaithersburg, Md. USA). A quality control analysis was performed to remove arrays not meeting essential quality control measures as defined by the manufacturer. Transcript expression levels were calculated by both Microarray Suite (MAS) 5.0 (Affymetrix) and the Robust Multichip Average (RMA) normalization techniques (Affymetrix. GeneChip expression data analysis fundamentals. Affymetrix, Santa Clara, Calif. USA, 2001; Hubbell et al. Bioinformatics, 18:1585-1592, 2002; Irizarry et al. Nucleic Acid Research, 31, 2003) MAS normalized data was used for performing standard quality control routines and the final data set was normalized with RMA for all subsequent analyses.

FIG. 2. Detection of SEQ ID NO:1 expression in 71 colorectal tissue specimens. The expression of SEQ ID NO:1 in a total of 71 colorectal specimens from 30 non-diseased controls (“normals”), 21 adenoma and 21 adenocarcinoma subjects was measured by end-point PCR using the forward and reverse oligonucleotide primers 5′-TAACTGGAATTCATGTTGGCTGAAATTCATCCCA (SEQ ID NO:89) and 5′-CACGATAAGCTTTTATTATAGTCTATAAACAGGAATACCCAAAACATA TTTAAACC (SEQ ID NO:90). The resulting PCR products were separated by agarose based gel electrophoresis.

FIG. 3. Measurements of SEQ ID NO:1 RNA concentration levels in colorectal tissue specimens. Quantitative Real-Time PCR, using forward and reverse oligonucleotide primers, 5′-TAACTGGAATTCATGTTGG CTGAAATTCATCCCA (SEQ ID NO:91) and 5′-CACGATAAGCTTTTATTATA GTCTATAAACAGGAATACCCAAAACATATTT AAACC (SEQ ID NO:92) was performed on RNA extracted from a total of 71 colorectal specimens from 30 non-diseased controls (white), 21 adenoma (striped) and 21 adenocarcinoma (black) subjects. Relative expression levels were calculated as described in Example 1.

FIG. 4. Schematic representation of predicted RNA variants derived from hCG_(—)1815491. cDNA clones derived from map region 8579310 to 8562303 (SEQ ID NO:1) on human chromosome 16 were used to locate exon sequences. Arrows: Oligo nucleotide primer sets (Table 5) were designed to allow measurement of individual RNA variants by PCR. Oligonucleotide primers covering splice junctions are shown as spanning intron sequences which is not included in the actual oligonucleotide primer sequence. Exon nucleotide sequence and genomic locations are given in FIGS. 22 and 23. The relationship of exon “E” numbering and SEQ ID NO. numbering is further defined in Table 1.

FIG. 5. Example on differential expression of hCG_(—)1815491 RNA variants in colorectal tissue specimens. The expression of the ten predicted RNA transcripts derived from the map region 8579310 to 8562303 on the strand of chromosome 16 was measured by end-point PCR using specific oligonucleotide primer sets (Table 5). DNA sequencing of the resulting PCR amplicons confirmed the products to be derivates of SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30 and SEQ ID NO:31 (Table 5).

FIG. 6. Measurement of SEQ ID NO:21 RNA concentration levels in colorectal tissue specimens. Quantitative Real-Time PCR, using forward oligonucleotide primer, 5′-ACACGGCTTTCCGGAGTAGA (SEQ ID NO:93), and reverse oligonucleotide primer, 5′-AACAGGTTTTACCTCCTTATCTTCAGAA (SEQ ID NO:94), was performed on RNA extracted from a total of 71 colorectal tissue specimens from 30 non-diseased controls (white), 21 adenoma (striped) and 20 adenocarcinoma (black) subjects. SEQ ID NO:21 RNA expression levels are depicted relative to HRPT as explained in Example 1.

FIG. 7. Identification of a novel RNA variant derived from SEQ ID NO:1. End-point PCR, using a forward oligonucleotide primer, 5′-GGCGGAGGAGAGGTG AGC (SEQ ID NO:95), spanning the junction between SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5 and a reverse oligonucleotide primer, 5′-GCTGACAGCATCCA AATGTATTATG (SEQ ID NO:96), hybridizing to SEQ ID NO:6, was performed on RNA extracted from colorectal tissue specimens from 2 non-diseased controls (Ctrl), 3 adenoma and 3 adenocarcinoma subjects. The resulting PCR products were separated by agarose-based gel electrophoresis and the products observed in the neoplastic tissue samples were sequenced, which confirmed the novel splicing of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO: 6 (Table 5).

FIG. 8. Measurement of expression of individual target regions in SEQ ID NO:1. The level of RNA hybridization to 13 Affymetrix probesets, Table 3, residing in the map region 8579310 to 8562303 was measured using the Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 as recommended by manufacturer. RNA was extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls (left bar in boxplots), 5 adenoma (middle bar in boxplots) and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects (right bar in boxplots). The individual boxplots are also given in FIGS. 9-21. The relationship of exon “E” numbering and SEQ ID NO. numbering is further defined in Table 1.

FIG. 9. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692527 (referred to as Probeset A in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8577230 to 8576913 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1

FIG. 10. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692526 (referred to as Probeset B in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8576785 to 8576609 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1

FIG. 11. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692525 (referred to as Probeset C in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8573317 to 8573214 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 12. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692524 (referred to as Probeset D in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8571756 to 8571721 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 13. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692522 (referred to as Probeset E in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8568480 to 8568447 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 14. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692521 (referred to as Probeset F in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8568438 to 8568409 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 15. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692504 (referred to as Probeset G in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8566289 to 8566014 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 16. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692505 (referred to as Probeset H in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8577467 to 8577374 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 17. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692523 (referred to as Probeset I in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8569323 to 8568689 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 18. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692520 (referred to as Probeset J in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8568331 to 8567516 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 19. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692519 (referred to as Probeset K in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8567301 to 8567162 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 20. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692517 (referred to as Probeset L in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8567033 to 8566994 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 21. Measurement of RNA expression on Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 probeset ID 3692518 (referred to as Probeset M in FIG. 8) targeting map region 8567158 to 8567091 of SEQ ID NO:1. Expression profiles were obtained from hybridisation analysis of RNA extracted from colon tissue specimens from 5 non-diseased controls, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects as further described in Example 1.

FIG. 22. SEQ ID NO:1 is specified by a 17,008 nucleotide sequence located on the minus strand of human chromosome 16 in the map region 8579310 to 8562303 (+ strand nomenclature) as specified by the NCBI contig ref: NT_(—)010498.15|Hs16_(—)10655, NCBI 36 March 2006 genome. Grey shading indicates location of nucleotide segments, i.e. exons, utilised in the RNA variants further described in FIG. 23.

FIG. 23. SEQ ID NO: 2 to SEQ ID NO: 20 identified to be alternatively spliced to generate the 10 RNA variants depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 24. Nucleotide sequences targeted by Affymetrix probeset ID 238021_s_at and probeset ID 238022_at.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is predicated, in part, on the elucidation of a gene expression profile, specifically that of hCG_(—)1815491, which characterises large intestine cellular populations in terms of their neoplastic state. This finding has now facilitated the development of routine means of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm based on screening for upregulation of the expression of this molecule, relative to control expression levels. To this end, in addition to assessing expression levels of hCG_(—)1815491 relative to normal or non-neoplastic levels, it has been determined that hCG_(—)1815491 is alternatively spliced in a neoplastic specific manner, thereby enabling a high level of discrimination.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that hCG_(—)1815491 is modulated, in terms of differential changes to its levels of expression, depending on whether the cell expressing that gene is neoplastic or not. It should be understood that reference to a gene “expression product” or “expression of a gene” is a reference to either a transcription product (such as primary RNA or mRNA) or a translation product such as protein. This gene and its expression products, whether they be RNA transcripts or encoded proteins, are collectively referred to as the “neoplastic marker”.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of hCG_(—)1815491 in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of hCG_(—)1815491 or variant thereof relative to control levels is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Reference to “large intestine” should be understood as a reference to a cell derived from one of the six anatomical regions of the large intestine, which regions commence after the terminal region of the ileum, these being:

-   -   (i) the cecum;     -   (ii) the ascending colon;     -   (iii) the transverse colon;     -   (iv) the descending colon;     -   (v) the sigmoid colon; and     -   (vi) the rectum.

Reference to “neoplasm” should be understood as a reference to a lesion, tumour or other encapsulated or unencapsulated mass or other form of growth which comprises neoplastic cells. A “neoplastic cell” should be understood as a reference to a cell exhibiting abnormal growth. The term “growth” should be understood in its broadest sense and includes reference to proliferation. In this regard, an example of abnormal cell growth is the uncontrolled proliferation of a cell. Another example is failed apoptosis in a cell, thus prolonging its usual life span. The neoplastic cell may be a benign cell or a malignant cell. In a preferred embodiment, the subject neoplasm is an adenoma or an adenocarcinoma. Without limiting the present invention to any one theory or mode of action, an adenoma is generally a benign tumour of epithelial origin which is either derived from epithelial tissue or exhibits clearly defined epithelial structures. These structures may take on a glandular appearance. It can comprise a malignant cell population within the adenoma, such as occurs with the progression of a benign adenoma to a malignant adenocarcinoma.

Preferably, said neoplastic cell is an adenoma or adenocarcinoma and even more preferably a colorectal adenoma or adenocarcinoma.

Reference to “hCG_(—)1815491” and its transcribed and translated expression products should be understood as a reference to all forms of this gene and to fragments thereof. As would be appreciated by the person of skill in the art, genes are known to exhibit allelic or polymorphic variation between individuals. Accordingly, reference to “hCG_(—)1815491” should be understood to extend to such variants which, in terms of the present diagnostic applications, achieve the same outcome despite the fact that minor genetic variations between the actual nucleic acid sequences may exist between individuals. Reference to “variants” should also be understood to extend to alternative transcriptional forms of hCG_(—)1815491, such as splice variants or variants which otherwise exhibit variation to exon expression and arrangement, such as in terms of multiple exon combinations or alternate 5′- or 3′-ends. The present invention should therefore be understood to extend to all forms of RNA (eg mRNA, primary RNA transcript, miRNA, etc), cDNA and peptide isoforms which arise from alternative splicing or any other mutation, polymorphic or allelic variation. It should also be understood to include reference to any subunit polypeptides such as precursor forms which may be generated, whether existing as a monomer, multimer, fusion protein or other complex.

Without limiting the present invention to any one theory or mode of action, the hCG_(—)1815491 genomic sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:1. The SEQ ID NO:1 nucleic acid molecule has been determined to generate at least 18 alternatively spliced exon segments, as follows:

(i) Exon segment E1 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:2 (ii) Exon segment E2 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:3 (iii) Exon segment E2a which is defined by SEQ ID NO:4 (iv) Exon segment E2b which is defined by SEQ ID NO:5 (v) Exon segment E3 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:6 (vi) Exon segment E3a which is defined by SEQ ID NO:7 (vii) Exon segment E4 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:8 (viii) Exon segment E5 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:9 (ix) Exon segment E5a which is defined by SEQ ID NO:10 (x) Exon segment E5b which is defined by SEQ ID NO:11 (xi) Exon segment E6 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:12 (xii) Exon segment E6a which is defined by SEQ ID NO:13 (xiii) Exon segment E6c which is defined by SEQ ID NO:14 (xiv) Exon segment E6d which is defined by SEQ ID NO:15 (xv) Exon segment E6e which is defined by SEQ ID NO:16 (xvi) Exon segment E7 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:17 (xvii) Exon segment E7a which is defined by SEQ ID NO:18 (xviii) Exon segment UE6/7 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:19 (xix) Exon segment E8 which is defined by SEQ ID NO:20.

SEQ ID NO:1 has at least 8 putative exon segments (SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:20) of which several are alternatively spliced. It has been still further determined that from this genomic structure there are transcribed at least 11 different RNA transcripts which each comprise one of the sequences depicted in SEQ ID NOs:21-31, Table 1 and are schematically depicted in FIG. 4. It would be appreciated that the sequences which are depicted in SEQ ID NOs:21-31 take the form of DNA since they have been assembled using SEQ ID NO:1. However, the RNA transcripts which are generated either in vivo or in vitro would be characterised by comprising a corresponding sequence, albeit in RNA form.

Accordingly, in terms of the method of the present invention, screening for the “level of expression” of hCG_(—)1815491 may be achieved in a variety of ways including screening for any of the forms of RNA transcribed from hCG_(—)1815491, cDNA generated therefrom or a protein expression product. Changes to the levels of any of these products is indicative of changes to the expression of the subject gene. Still further, the molecule which is identified and measured may be a whole molecule or a fragment thereof. For example, one is more likely to identify only fragments of RNA or protein molecules in a stool sample although provided that said fragment comprises sufficient sequence to indicate that its origin with the hCG_(—)1815491 gene is more likely than not (such as one or more of the exon segments or exons detailed above), fragmented hCG_(—)1815491 molecules are useful in the context of the method of the present invention. For example, the identification of RNA transcripts corresponding to one or more of the exon segments herein defined, alone or in combination, is a useful means of screening for changes to hCG_(—)1815491 expression.

The present invention therefore more particularly provides a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of a gene comprising a sequence of nucleotides as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity to SEQ ID NO:1 across the length of the gene, or variant of SEQ ID NO:1, in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of said gene or variant thereof relative to control levels is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Reference to “gene” herein should be understood as a reference to any genomic locus or set of loci which give rise to RNA transcripts from one or more promoters, including transcripts formed by the splicing of two or more exons as hereinbefore described. It would be appreciated that not all RNA transcripts are necessarily translated to a protein expression product.

In one embodiment of the present invention, said hCG_(—)1815491 expression levels are assessed by screening for the levels of expression of one or more of the RNA transcripts which are generated from the SEQ ID NO:1 genomic sequence.

Accordingly, in accordance with this embodiment there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of one or more RNA transcripts, which transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:23, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (v) SEQ ID NO:25, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25; -   (vi) SEQ ID NO:26, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:26; -   (vii) SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (viii) SEQ ID NO:28, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:28; -   (ix) SEQ ID NO:29, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:29; -   (x) SEQ ID NO:30, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; -   (xi) SEQ ID NO:31, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Reference to said RNA transcript being “characterised by” the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:21-31 should be understood to mean that the subject RNA transcript comprises a corresponding RNA form of the DNA sequence information which is depicted in SEQ ID NOs:21-31. That is, each of the DNA nucleotides depicted in these sequences should be replaced with the corresponding RNA version of that nucleotide.

Preferably, the RNA transcript, the level of expression of which is assessed in accordance with the method of the present invention, is one or more of the transcripts characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; -   (v) SEQ ID NO:23, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; -   (vi) SEQ ID NO:30, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; -   (vii) SEQ ID NO:31, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31; -   (viii) SEQ ID NO:25, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25.

Even more preferably, said RNA transcript is one or more of the transcripts characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22.

Most preferably, said RNA transcript is characterised by SEQ ID NO:2.

In accordance with these aspects of the present invention, one may screen for the RNA transcript itself or for an expression product translated from said RNA transcript.

It should be understood that one may choose to screen for any one or more of said transcripts in a single sample of interest.

As detailed hereinbefore, hCG_(—)1815491 has been determined to comprise 18 alternatively spliced exon segments which give rise to at least 11 RNA transcripts. It has now been determined that screening for the expression of one or more of the exon segments themselves is indicative of the neoplastic state of the individual in issue. It has still further been determined that the identification of certain combinations of these exons is particularly useful in this regard. To this end, it should be appreciated that the specific exon combinations which are hereinafter discussed may, in some RNA transcripts, have been spliced such that they are joined. In other transcripts, the subject exons may not be joined to one another but may be positioned, relative to one another, either proximally or distally along the transcript.

According to this embodiment there is therefore provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from:

-   (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:2, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:2; -   (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:3, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:3 -   (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:4; -   (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:5; -   (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:6; -   (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:7; -   (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:8; -   (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:9; -   (ix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:10; -   (x) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:11; -   (xi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:12 -   (xii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:13 -   (xiii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:14 -   (xiv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:15, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:15 -   (xv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:16, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:16 -   (xvi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:17, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:17 -   (xvii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:18 -   (xviii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:19, or a sequence     having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:19; or -   (xix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:20, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:20     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

More particularly there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from:

-   (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:3, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:3 -   (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:4; -   (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:5; -   (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:6; -   (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:7; -   (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:8; -   (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:9; or -   (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:10; -   (ix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:11; -   (x) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:12; -   (xi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:13; -   (xii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:14; -   (xiii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:15, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:15; -   (xiv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:18; -   (xv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:19, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:19     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Yet more particularly there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript selected from:

-   (i) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12; -   (ii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14; -   (iii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:6; -   (iv) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a     sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these     sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID     NO:18; -   (v) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:7; -   (vi) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence     having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences,     or variants of SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:13; -   (vii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8; -   (viii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:18; -   (ix) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:18; -   (x) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:9; or -   (xi) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

In a further aspect there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from:

-   (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:5; -   (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:6; -   (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:8; -   (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:10; -   (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant     of SEQ ID NO:11; -   (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:12; -   (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:14; or -   (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having     at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or     variant of SEQ ID NO:18.     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

Still more particularly there is provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript is selected from:

-   (i) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12; -   (ii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14,     or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of     these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID     NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14; -   (iii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID     NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the     length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID     NO:12, SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID NO:24; or -   (iv) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments     defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at     least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or     variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8.     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels     is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell     predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.

In yet still another aspect, the exon segments of said transcripts are spliced such that they are joined.

With regard to the issue of sequence similarity (also referred to as “identity”), terms used to describe sequence relationships between two or more polynucleotides include “reference sequence”, “comparison window”, “sequence similarity”, “sequence identity”, “percentage of sequence similarity”, “percentage of sequence identity”, “substantially similar” and “substantial identity”. A “reference sequence” is at least 12 but frequently 15 to 18 and often at least 25 or above, such as 30 monomer units in length. Because two polynucleotides may each comprise (1) a sequence (i.e. only a portion of the complete polynucleotide sequence) that is similar between the two polynucleotides, and (2) a sequence that is divergent between the two polynucleotides, sequence comparisons between two (or more) polynucleotides are typically performed by comparing sequences of the two polynucleotides over a “comparison window” to identify and compare local regions of sequence similarity. A “comparison window” refers to a conceptual segment of typically 12 contiguous residues that is compared to a reference sequence. The comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e. gaps) of about 20% or less as compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. Optimal alignment of sequences for aligning a comparison window may be conducted by computerized implementations of algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package Release 7.0, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive Madison, Wis., USA) or by inspection and the best alignment (i.e. resulting in the highest percentage homology over the comparison window) generated by any of the various methods selected. Reference also may be made to the BLAST family of programs as for example disclosed by Altschul et al. (Nucl. Acids Res. 25: 3389, 1997). A detailed discussion of sequence analysis can be found in Unit 19.3 of Ausubel et al. (“Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” John Wiley & Sons Inc, Chapter 15, 1994-1998). A range of other algorithms may be used to compare the nucleotide and amino acid sequences such as but not limited to PILEUP, CLUSTALW, SEQUENCHER or VectorNTI.

The terms “sequence similarity” and “sequence identity” as used herein refers to the extent that sequences are identical or functionally or structurally similar on a nucleotide-by-nucleotide basis over a window of comparison. Thus, a “percentage of sequence identity”, for example, is calculated by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over the window of comparison, determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid base (e.g. A, T, C, G, I) occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison (i.e., the window size), and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity. For the purposes of the present invention, “sequence identity” will be understood to mean the “match percentage” calculated by the DNASIS computer program (Version 2.5 for windows; available from Hitachi Software engineering Co., Ltd., South San Francisco, Calif., USA) using standard defaults as used in the reference manual accompanying the software. Similar comments apply in relation to sequence similarity.

As detailed above, and more specifically, nucleic acid sequence identities (homologies) may be evaluated using any of the variety of sequence comparison algorithms and programs known in the art. The extent of sequence identity (homology) may be determined using any computer program and associated parameters, including those described herein, such as BLAST 2.2.2. or FASTA version 3.0t78, with the default parameters. For example, the sequence comparison algorithm is a BLAST version algorithm. In one aspect, for nucleic acid sequence identity analysis, the BLAST nucleotide parameters comprise word size=11, expect=10, filter low complexity with DUST, cost to open gap=5, cost to extend gap=2, penalty for mismatch=−3, reward for match=1, Dropoff (X) for BLAST extensions in bits=20, final X dropoff value for gapped alignment=50, and all other options are set to default.

Exemplary algorithms and programs include, but are not limited to, TBLASTN, BLASTP, FASTA, TFASTA, and CLUSTALW (Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85(8):2444-2448, 1988; Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215(3):403-410, 1990; Thompson et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 22(2):4673-4680, 1994; Higgins et al., Methods Enzymol. 266:383-402, 1996; Altschul et al., Nature Genetics 3:266-272, 1993). Homology or identity can be measured using sequence analysis software (e.g., Sequence Analysis Software Package of the Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, 1710 University Avenue, Madison, Wis. 53705). Such software matches similar sequences by assigning degrees of homology to various deletions, substitutions and other modifications.

BLAST, BLAST 2.0 and BLAST 2.2.2 algorithms are also used to practice the invention. They are described, e.g., in; Altschul et al. (1990), supra. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighbourhood word score threshold (Altschul et al. (1990) supra). These initial neighbourhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always >0). Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=−4 and a comparison of both strands. The BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin & Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873). One measure of similarity provided by BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide sequences would occur by chance.

The subject sequences are defined as exhibiting at least 90% similarity. In one embodiment, said percentage similarity is 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%.

It should be understood that the “individual” who is the subject of testing may be any human or non-human mammal. Examples of non-human mammals includes primates, livestock animals (e.g. horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, donkeys), laboratory test animals (e.g. mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs), companion animals (e.g. dogs, cats) and captive wild animals (e.g. deer, foxes). Preferably the mammal is a human.

The method of the present invention is predicated on the comparison of the level of hCG_(—)1815491 in a biological sample with the control levels of this marker. The “control level” may be either a “normal level”, which is the level of marker expressed by a corresponding large intestine cell or cellular population which is not neoplastic, or the background level which is detectable in a negative control sample.

The normal (or “non-neoplastic”) level may be determined using tissues derived from the same individual who is the subject of testing. However, it would be appreciated that this may be quite invasive for the individual concerned and it is therefore likely to be more convenient to analyse the test results relative to a standard result which reflects individual or collective results obtained from individuals other than the patient in issue. This latter form of analysis is in fact the preferred method of analysis since it enables the design of kits which require the collection and analysis of a single biological sample, being a test sample of interest. The standard results which provide the normal level may be calculated by any suitable means which would be well known to the person of skill in the art. For example, a population of normal tissues can be assessed in terms of the level of the neoplastic marker of the present invention, thereby providing a standard value or range of values against which all future test samples are analysed. It should also be understood that the normal level may be determined from the subjects of a specific cohort and for use with respect to test samples derived from that cohort. Accordingly, there may be determined a number of standard values or ranges which correspond to cohorts which differ in respect of characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity or health status. Said “normal level” may be a discrete level or a range of levels. An increase in the expression level of the subject genes relative to normal levels is indicative of the tissue being neoplastic.

Preferably, said control level is a non-neoplastic level.

According to these aspects of the present invention, said large intestine tissue is preferably colorectal tissue.

Still more preferably, said neoplasm is a colorectal adenoma or adenocarcinoma.

In a related aspect, it has been determined that a subpopulation of the hCG_(—)1815491 markers are not only expressed at levels higher than normal levels, their expression pattern is uniquely characterised by the fact that expression levels above that of background control levels are not detectable in non-neoplastic tissue. This determination has therefore enabled the development of qualitative screening systems which are simply designed to detect hCG_(—)1815491 expression relative to a control background level. In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, said “control level” is therefore the “background level”. Preferably, said background level is of the chosen testing methodology.

According to this aspect, there is therefore provided a method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of one or more RNA transcripts, which transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:24 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:25 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:26 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:26; -   (v) SEQ ID NO:27 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; -   (vi) SEQ ID NO:29 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:29; -   (vii) SEQ ID NO:30 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; or -   (viii) SEQ ID NO:31 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31;     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of expression of the genes or transcripts of group (i) and/or     group (ii) relative to background levels is indicative of a     neoplastic cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic     state.

In a most preferred embodiment, said transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of:

-   (i) SEQ ID NO:21 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:22 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; -   (iii) SEQ ID NO:23 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; -   (iv) SEQ ID NO:24 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity     across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; or -   (v) SEQ ID NO:27 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across     the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27;     in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level     of expression of the genes or transcripts of group (i) and/or     group (ii) relative to background levels is indicative of a     neoplastic cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic     state.

Most preferably, said RNA sequences are characterised by the sequence of either SEQ ID NO:21 or SEQ ID NO:22.

The detection method of the present invention can be performed on any suitable biological sample. To this end, reference to a “biological sample” should be understood as a reference to any sample of biological material derived from an animal such as, but not limited to, cellular material, biological fluids (eg. blood), faeces, tissue biopsy specimens, surgical specimens or fluid which has been introduced into the body of an animal and subsequently removed (such as, for example, the solution retrieved from an enema wash). The biological sample which is tested according to the method of the present invention may be tested directly or may require some form of treatment prior to testing. For example, a biopsy or surgical sample may require homogenisation prior to testing or it may require sectioning for in situ testing of the qualitative expression levels of individual genes. Alternatively, a cell sample may require permeabilisation prior to testing. Further, to the extent that the biological sample is not in liquid form, (if such form is required for testing) it may require the addition of a reagent, such as a buffer, to mobilise the sample.

To the extent that the neoplastic marker gene expression product is present in a biological sample, the biological sample may be directly tested or else all or some of the nucleic acid or protein material present in the biological sample may be isolated prior to testing. To this end, and as hereinbefore described, it would be appreciated that when screening for changes to the level of expression of hCG_(—)1815491 or the specifically recited transcripts, one may screen for the RNA transcripts themselves, cDNA which has been transcribed therefrom or a translated protein product. In yet another example, the sample may be partially purified or otherwise enriched prior to analysis. For example, to the extent that a biological sample comprises a very diverse cell population, it may be desirable to enrich for a sub-population of particular interest. It is within the scope of the present invention for the target cell population or molecules derived therefrom to be pretreated prior to testing, for example, inactivation of live virus or being run on a gel. It should also be understood that the biological sample may be freshly harvested or it may have been stored (for example by freezing) prior to testing or otherwise treated prior to testing (such as by undergoing culturing).

The choice of what type of sample is most suitable for testing in accordance with the method disclosed herein will be dependent on the nature of the situation. Preferably, said sample is a faecal (stool) sample, enema wash, surgical resection, tissue biopsy or blood sample.

As detailed hereinbefore, the present invention is designed to screen for a neoplastic cell or cellular population, which is located in the large intestine. Accordingly, reference to “cell or cellular population” should be understood as a reference to an individual cell or a group of cells. Said group of cells may be a diffuse population of cells, a cell suspension, an encapsulated population of cells or a population of cells which take the form of tissue.

As detailed hereinbefore, reference to “expression” should be understood as a reference to the transcription and/or translation of a nucleic acid molecule. In this regard, the present invention is exemplified with respect to screening for hCG_(—)1815491 expression products taking the form of RNA transcripts (eg primary RNA or mRNA). Reference to “RNA” should be understood to encompass reference to any form of RNA, such as primary RNA or mRNA. Without limiting the present invention in any way, the modulation of gene transcription leading to increased or decreased RNA synthesis will also correlate with the translation of some of these RNA transcripts to produce a protein product. Accordingly, the present invention also extends to detection methodology which is directed to screening for modulated levels or patterns of the neoplastic marker protein products as an indicator of the neoplastic state of a cell or cellular population. Although one method is to screen for RNA transcripts and/or the corresponding protein product, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited in this regard and extends to screening for any other form of neoplastic marker expression product such as, for example, a primary RNA transcript. It is well within the skill of the person of skill in the art to determine the most appropriate screening target for any given situation.

Reference to “nucleic acid molecule” should be understood as a reference to both deoxyribonucleic acid molecules and ribonucleic acid molecules and fragments thereof. The present invention therefore extends to both directly screening for RNA levels in a biological sample or screening for the complementary cDNA which has been reverse-transcribed from an RNA population of interest. It is well within the skill of the person of skill in the art to design methodology directed to screening for either DNA or RNA. As detailed above, the method of the present invention also extends to screening for the protein product translated from the subject RNA.

In terms of screening for the upregulation of hCG_(—)1815491 it would also be well known to the person of skill in the art that changes which are detectable at the DNA level are indicative of changes to gene expression activity and therefore changes to expression product levels. Such changes include but are not limited to, changes to DNA methylation and chromatin proteins associated with the gene. Accordingly, reference herein to “screening the level of expression” and comparison of these “levels of expression” to control “levels of expression” should be understood as a reference to assessing DNA factors which are related to transcription, such as gene/DNA methylation patterns or association with specific chromosomal proteins.

The term “protein” should be understood to encompass peptides, polypeptides and proteins (including protein fragments). The protein may be glycosylated or unglycosylated and/or may contain a range of other molecules fused, linked, bound or otherwise associated to the protein such as amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates or other peptides, polypeptides or proteins. Reference herein to a “protein” includes a protein comprising a sequence of amino acids as well as a protein associated with other molecules such as amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates or other peptides, polypeptides or proteins.

The proteins encoded by hCG_(—)1815491 may be in multimeric form meaning that two or more molecules are associated together. Where the same protein molecules are associated together, the complex is a homomultimer. An example of a homomultimer is a homodimer. Where at least one marker protein is associated with at least one non-marker protein, then the complex is a heteromultimer such as a heterodimer.

Reference to a “fragment” should be understood as a reference to a portion of the subject nucleic acid molecule or protein. As detailed hereinbefore, this is particularly relevant with respect to screening for modulated RNA levels in stool samples since the subject RNA is likely to have been degraded or otherwise fragmented due to the environment of the gut. One may therefore actually be detecting fragments of the subject RNA molecule, which fragments are identified by virtue of the use of a suitably specific probe.

Reference to the “onset” of a neoplasm, such as adenoma or adenocarcinoma, should be understood as a reference to one or more cells of that individual exhibiting dysplasia. In this regard, the adenoma or adenocarcinoma may be well developed in that a mass of dysplastic cells has developed. Alternatively, the adenoma or adenocarcinoma may be at a very early stage in that only relatively few abnormal cell divisions have occurred at the time of diagnosis. The present invention also extends to the assessment of an individual's predisposition to the development of a neoplasm, such as an adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Without limiting the present invention in any way, changed levels of the neoplastic marker may be indicative of that individual's predisposition to developing a neoplasia, such as the future development of an adenoma or adenocarcinoma or another adenoma or adenocarcinoma.

Although the preferred method is to diagnose neoplasia development or predisposition thereto, the detection of converse changes in the levels of said marker may be desired under certain circumstances, for example, to monitor the effectiveness of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment directed to modulating a neoplastic condition, such as adenoma or adenocarcinoma development. For example, where elevated levels of hCG_(—)1815491 indicates that an individual has developed a condition characterised by adenoma or adenocarcinoma development, for example, screening for a decrease in the levels of this marker subsequently to the onset of a therapeutic regime may be utilised to indicate reversal or other form of improvement of the subject individual's condition.

The method of the present invention is therefore useful as a one off test or as an on-going monitor of those individuals thought to be at risk of neoplasia development or as a monitor of the effectiveness of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment regimes directed to inhibiting or otherwise slowing neoplasia development. In these situations, mapping the modulation of hCG_(—)1815491 expression levels in any one or more classes of biological samples is a valuable indicator of the status of an individual or the effectiveness of a therapeutic or prophylactic regime which is currently in use. Accordingly, the method of the present invention should be understood to extend to monitoring for increases or decreases in hCG_(—)1815491 expression levels in an individual relative to their normal level (as hereinbefore defined), or relative to one or more earlier marker expression levels determined from a biological sample of said individual.

Means of testing for the subject expressed neoplasm marker in a biological sample can be achieved by any suitable method, which would be well known to the person of skill in the art, such as but not limited to:

-   (i) In vivo detection.     -   Molecular Imaging may be used following administration of         imaging probes or reagents capable of disclosing altered         expression of the marker in the intestinal tissues.     -   Molecular imaging (Moore et al., BBA, 1402:239-249, 1988;         Weissleder et al., Nature Medicine 6:351-355, 2000) is the in         vivo imaging of molecular expression that correlates with the         macro-features currently visualized using “classical” diagnostic         imaging techniques such as X-Ray, computed tomography (CT), MRI,         Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or endoscopy. -   (ii) Detection of up-regulation of RNA expression in the cells by     Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH), or in extracts from the     cells by technologies such as Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase     Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRTPCR) or Flow cytometric qualification     of competitive RT-PCR products (Wedemeyer et al., Clinical Chemistry     48:9 1398-1405, 2002). -   (iii) Assessment of expression profiles of RNA, for example by array     technologies (Alon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA: 96,     6745-6750, June 1999).     -   A “microarray” is a linear or multi-dimensional array of         preferably discrete regions, each having a defined area, formed         on the surface of a solid support. The density of the discrete         regions on a microarray is determined by the total numbers of         target polynucleotides to be detected on the surface of a single         solid phase support. As used herein, a DNA microarray is an         array of oligonucleotide probes placed onto a chip or other         surfaces used to detect complementary oligonucleotides from a         complex nucleic acid mixture. Since the position of each         particular group of probes in the array is known, the identities         of the target polynucleotides can be determined based on their         binding to a particular position in the microarray.     -   Recent developments in DNA microarray technology make it         possible to conduct a large scale assay of a plurality of target         nucleic acid molecules on a single solid phase support. U.S.         Pat. No. 5,837,832 (Chee et al.) and related patent applications         describe immobilizing an array of oligonucleotide probes for         hybridization and detection of specific nucleic acid sequences         in a sample. Target polynucleotides of interest isolated from a         tissue of interest are hybridized to the DNA chip and the         specific sequences detected based on the target polynucleotides'         preference and degree of hybridization at discrete probe         locations. One important use of arrays is in the analysis of         differential gene expression, where the profile of expression of         genes in different cells or tissues, often a tissue of interest         and a control tissue, is compared and any differences in gene         expression among the respective tissues are identified. Such         information is useful for the identification of the types of         genes expressed in a particular tissue type and diagnosis of         conditions based on the expression profile.     -   In one example, RNA from the sample of interest is subjected to         reverse transcription to obtain labelled cDNA. See U.S. Pat. No.         6,410,229 (Lockhart et al.) The cDNA is then hybridized to         oligonucleotides or cDNAs of known sequence arrayed on a chip or         other surface in a known order. In another example, the RNA is         isolated from a biological sample and hybridised to a chip on         which are anchored cDNA probes. The location of the         oligonucleotide to which the labelled cDNA hybridizes provides         sequence information on the cDNA, while the amount of labelled         hybridized RNA or cDNA provides an estimate of the relative         representation of the RNA or cDNA of interest. See Schena, et         al. Science 270:467-470 (1995). For example, use of a cDNA         microarray to analyze gene expression patterns in human cancer         is described by DeRisi, et al. (Nature Genetics 14:457-460         (1996)).     -   In a preferred embodiment, nucleic acid probes corresponding to         the subject nucleic acids are made. The nucleic acid probes         attached to the microarray are designed to be substantially         complementary to the nucleic acids of the biological sample such         that specific hybridization of the target sequence and the         probes of the present invention occurs. This complementarity         need not be perfect, in that there may be any number of base         pair mismatches that will interfere with hybridization between         the target sequence and the single stranded nucleic acids of the         present invention. It is expected that the overall homology of         the genes at the nucleotide level probably will be about 40% or         greater, probably about 60% or greater, and even more probably         about 80% or greater; and in addition that there will be         corresponding contiguous sequences of about 8-12 nucleotides or         longer. However, if the number of mutations is so great that no         hybridization can occur under even the least stringent of         hybridization conditions, the sequence is not a complementary         target sequence. Thus, by “substantially complementary” herein         is meant that the probes are sufficiently complementary to the         target sequences to hybridize under normal reaction conditions,         particularly high stringency conditions.     -   A nucleic acid probe is generally single stranded but can be         partly single and partly double stranded. The strandedness of         the probe is dictated by the structure, composition, and         properties of the target sequence. In general, the         oligonucleotide probes range from about 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30         to about 100 bases long, with from about 10 to about 80 bases         being preferred, and from about 15 to about 40 bases being         particularly preferred. That is, generally entire genes are         rarely used as probes. In some embodiments, much longer nucleic         acids can be used, up to hundreds of bases. The probes are         sufficiently specific to hybridize to a complementary template         sequence under conditions known by those of skill in the art.         The number of mismatches between the probe's sequences and their         complementary template (target) sequences to which they         hybridize during hybridization generally do not exceed 15%,         usually do not exceed 10% and preferably do not exceed 5%,         as-determined by BLAST (default settings).     -   Oligonucleotide probes can include the naturally-occurring         heterocyclic bases normally found in nucleic acids (uracil,         cytosine, thymine, adenine and guanine), as well as modified         bases and base analogues. Any modified base or base analogue         compatible with hybridization of the probe to a target sequence         is useful in the practice of the invention. The sugar or         glycoside portion of the probe can comprise deoxyribose, ribose,         and/or modified forms of these sugars, such as, for example,         2′-O-alkyl ribose. In a preferred embodiment, the sugar moiety         is 2′-deoxyribose; however, any sugar moiety that is compatible         with the ability of the probe to hybridize to a target sequence         can be used.     -   In one embodiment, the nucleoside units of the probe are linked         by a phosphodiester backbone, as is well known in the art. In         additional embodiments, internucleotide linkages can include any         linkage known to one of skill in the art that is compatible with         specific hybridization of the probe including, but not limited         to phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, sulfamate (e.g., U.S.         Pat. No. 5,470,967) and polyamide (i.e., peptide nucleic acids).         Peptide nucleic acids are described in Nielsen et al. (1991)         Science 254: 1497-1500, U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,331, and         Nielsen (1999) Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 10:71-75.     -   In certain embodiments, the probe can be a chimeric molecule;         i.e., can comprise more than one type of base or sugar subunit,         and/or the linkages can be of more than one type within the same         primer. The probe can comprise a moiety to facilitate         hybridization to its target sequence, as are known in the art,         for example, intercalators and/or minor groove binders.         Variations of the bases, sugars, and internucleoside backbone,         as well as the presence of any pendant group on the probe, will         be compatible with the ability of the probe to bind, in a         sequence-specific fashion, with its target sequence. A large         number of structural modifications, are possible within these         bounds. Advantageously, the probes according to the present         invention may have structural characteristics such that they         allow the signal amplification, such structural characteristics         being, for example, branched DNA probes as those described by         Urdea et al. (Nucleic Acids Symp. Ser., 24:197-200 (1991)) or in         the European Patent No. EP-0225,807. Moreover, synthetic methods         for preparing the various heterocyclic bases, sugars,         nucleosides and nucleotides that form the probe, and preparation         of oligonucleotides of specific predetermined sequence, are         well-developed and known in the art. A preferred method for         oligonucleotide synthesis incorporates the teaching of U.S. Pat.         No. 5,419,966.     -   Multiple probes may be designed for a particular target nucleic         acid to account for polymorphism and/or secondary structure in         the target nucleic acid, redundancy of data and the like. In         some embodiments, where more than one probe per sequence is         used, either overlapping probes or probes to different sections         of a single target gene are used. That is, two, three, four or         more probes, are used to build in a redundancy for a particular         target. The probes can be overlapping (i.e. have some sequence         in common), or are specific for distinct sequences of a gene.         When multiple target polynucleotides are to be detected         according to the present invention, each probe or probe group         corresponding to a particular target polynucleotide is situated         in a discrete area of the microarray.     -   Probes may be in solution, such as in wells or on the surface of         a micro-array, or attached to a solid support. Examples of solid         support materials that can be used include a plastic, a ceramic,         a metal, a resin, a gel and a membrane. Useful types of solid         supports include plates, beads, magnetic material, microbeads,         hybridization chips, membranes, crystals, ceramics and         self-assembling monolayers. One example comprises a         two-dimensional or three-dimensional matrix, such as a gel or         hybridization chip with multiple probe binding sites (Pevzner et         al., J. Biomol. Struc. & Dyn. 9:399-410, 1991; Maskos and         Southern, Nuc. Acids Res. 20:1679-84, 1992). Hybridization chips         can be used to construct very large probe arrays that are         subsequently hybridized with a target nucleic acid. Analysis of         the hybridization pattern of the chip can assist in the         identification of the target nucleotide sequence. Patterns can         be manually or computer analyzed, but it is clear that         positional sequencing by hybridization lends itself to computer         analysis and automation. In another example, one may use an         Affymetrix chip on a solid phase structural support in         combination with a fluorescent bead based approach. In yet         another example, one may utilise a cDNA microarray. In this         regard, the oligonucleotides described by Lockkart et al. (i.e.         Affymetrix synthesis probes in situ on the solid phase) are         particularly preferred, that is, photolithography.     -   As will be appreciated by those in the art, nucleic acids can be         attached or immobilized to a solid support in a wide variety of         ways. By “immobilized” herein is meant the association or         binding between the nucleic acid probe and the solid support is         sufficient to be stable under the conditions of binding,         washing, analysis, and removal. The binding can be covalent or         non-covalent. By “non-covalent binding” and grammatical         equivalents herein is meant one or more of either electrostatic,         hydrophilic, and hydrophobic interactions. Included in         non-covalent binding is the covalent attachment of a molecule,         such as streptavidin, to the support and the non-covalent         binding of the biotinylated probe to the streptavidin. By         “covalent binding” and grammatical equivalents herein is meant         that the two moieties, the solid support and the probe, are         attached by at least one bond, including sigma bonds, pi bonds         and coordination bonds. Covalent bonds can be formed directly         between the probe and the solid support or can be formed by a         cross linker or by inclusion of a specific reactive group on         either the solid support or the probe or both molecules.         Immobilization may also involve a combination of covalent and         non-covalent interactions.     -   Nucleic acid probes may be attached to the solid support by         covalent binding such as by conjugation with a coupling agent or         by covalent or non-covalent binding such as electrostatic         interactions, hydrogen bonds or antibody-antigen coupling, or by         combinations thereof. Typical coupling agents include         biotin/avidin, biotin/streptavidin, Staphylococcus aureus         protein A/IgG antibody F_(c) fragment, and streptavidin/protein         A chimeras (T. Sano and C. R. Cantor, Bio/Technology 9:1378-81         (1991)), or derivatives or combinations of these agents. Nucleic         acids may be attached to the solid support by a photocleavable         bond, an electrostatic bond, a disulfide bond, a peptide bond, a         diester bond or a combination of these sorts of bonds. The array         may also be attached to the solid support by a selectively         releasable bond such as 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl or its derivative.         Derivatives which have been found to be useful include 3 or         4[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)]-methyl-benzoic acid, N-succinimidyl-3         or 4[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)]-methyl-benzoic acid,         N-succinimidyl-3 or         4[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)]-hydroxymethyl-benzoic acid,         N-succinimidyl-3 or         4[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)]-chloromethyl-benzoic acid, and salts of         these acids.     -   In general, the probes are attached to the microarray in a wide         variety of ways, as will be appreciated by those in the art. As         described herein, the nucleic acids can either be synthesized         first, with subsequent attachment to the microarray, or can be         directly synthesized on the microarray.     -   The microarray comprises a suitable solid substrate. By         “substrate” or “solid support” or other grammatical equivalents         herein is meant any material that can be modified to contain         discrete individual sites appropriate for the attachment or         association of the nucleic acid probes and is amenable to at         least one detection method. The solid phase support of the         present invention can be of any solid materials and structures         suitable for supporting nucleotide hybridization and synthesis.         Preferably, the solid phase support comprises at least one         substantially rigid surface on which the oligonucleotide primers         can be immobilized and the reverse transcriptase reaction         performed. The substrates with which the polynucleotide         microarray elements are stably associated and may be fabricated         from a variety of materials, including plastics, ceramics,         metals, acrylamide, cellulose, nitrocellulose, glass,         polystyrene, polyethylene vinyl acetate, polypropylene,         polymethacrylate, polyethylene, polyethylene oxide,         polysilicates, polycarbonates, Teflon, fluorocarbons, nylon,         silicon rubber, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, polylactic         acid, polyorthoesters, polypropylfumerate, collagen,         glycosaminoglycans, and polyamino acids. Substrates may be         two-dimensional or three-dimensional in form, such as gels,         membranes, thin films, glasses, plates, cylinders, beads,         magnetic beads, optical fibers, woven fibers, etc. A preferred         form of array is a three-dimensional array. A preferred         three-dimensional array is a collection of tagged beads. Each         tagged bead has different oligonucleotide primers attached to         it. Tags are detectable by signalling means such as color         (Luminex, Illumina) and electromagnetic field (Pharmaseq) and         signals on tagged beads can even be remotely detected (e.g.,         using optical fibers). The size of the solid support can be any         of the standard microarray sizes, useful for DNA microarray         technology, and the size may be tailored to fit the particular         machine being used to conduct a reaction of the invention. In         general, the substrates allow optical detection and do not         appreciably fluoresce.     -   In one embodiment, the surface of the microarray and the probe         may be derivatized with chemical functional groups for         subsequent attachment of the two. Thus, for example, the         microarray is derivatized with a chemical functional group         including, but not limited to, amino groups, carboxy groups, oxo         groups and thiol groups, with amino groups being particularly         preferred. Using these functional groups, the probes can be         attached using functional groups on the probes. For example,         nucleic acids containing amino groups can be attached to         surfaces comprising amino groups, for example using linkers as         are known in the art; for example, homo- or hetero-bifunctional         linkers as are well known. In addition, in some cases,         additional linkers, such as alkyl groups (including substituted         and heteroalkyl groups) may be used.     -   In this embodiment, the oligonucleotides are synthesized as is         known in the art, and then attached to the surface of the solid         support. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,         either the 5′ or 3′ terminus may be attached to the solid         support, or attachment may be via an internal nucleoside. In an         additional embodiment, the immobilization to the solid support         may be very strong, yet non-covalent. For example, biotinylated         oligonucleotides can be made, which bind to surfaces covalently         coated with streptavidin, resulting in attachment.     -   The arrays may be produced according to any convenient         methodology, such as preforming the polynucleotide microarray         elements and then stably associating them with the surface.         Alternatively, the oligonucleotides may be synthesized on the         surface, as is known in the art. A number of different array         configurations and methods for their production are known to         those of skill in the art and disclosed in WO 95/25116 and WO         95/35505 (photolithographic techniques), U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,934         (in situ synthesis by photolithography), U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,261         (in situ synthesis by mechanically directed flow paths); and         U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,637 (synthesis by spotting, printing or         coupling); the disclosure of which are herein incorporated in         their entirety by reference. Another method for coupling DNA to         beads uses specific ligands attached to the end of the DNA to         link to ligand-binding molecules attached to a bead. Possible         ligand-binding partner pairs include biotin-avidin/streptavidin,         or various antibody/antigen pairs such as         digoxygenin-antidigoxygenin antibody (Smith et al., Science         258:1122-1126 (1992)). Covalent chemical attachment of DNA to         the support can be accomplished by using standard coupling         agents to link the 5′-phosphate on the DNA to coated         microspheres through a phosphoamidate bond. Methods for         immobilization of oligonucleotides to solid-state substrates are         well established. See Pease et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA         91(11):5022-5026 (1994). A preferred method of attaching         oligonucleotides to solid-state substrates is described by Guo         et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 22:5456-5465 (1994). Immobilization         can be accomplished either by in situ DNA synthesis (Maskos and         Southern, supra) or by covalent attachment of chemically         synthesized oligonucleotides (Guo et al., supra) in combination         with robotic arraying technologies.     -   In addition to the solid-phase technology represented by         microarray arrays, gene expression can also be quantified using         liquid-phase assays. One such system is kinetic polymerase chain         reaction (PCR). Kinetic PCR allows for the simultaneous         amplification and quantification of specific nucleic acid         sequences. The specificity is derived from synthetic         oligonucleotide primers designed to preferentially adhere to         single-stranded nucleic acid sequences bracketing the target         site. This pair of oligonucleotide primers form specific,         non-covalently bound complexes on each strand of the target         sequence. These complexes facilitate in vitro transcription of         double-stranded DNA in opposite orientations. Temperature         cycling of the reaction mixture creates a continuous cycle of         primer binding, transcription, and re-melting of the nucleic         acid to individual strands. The result is an exponential         increase of the target dsDNA product. This product can be         quantified in real time either through the use of an         intercalating dye or a sequence specific probe. SYBR(r) Green 1,         is an example of an intercalating dye, that preferentially binds         to dsDNA resulting in a concomitant increase in the fluorescent         signal. Sequence specific probes, such as used with TaqMan         technology, consist of a fluorochrome and a quenching molecule         covalently bound to opposite ends of an oligonucleotide. The         probe is designed to selectively bind the target DNA sequence         between the two oligonucleotide primers. When the DNA strands         are synthesized during the PCR reaction, the fluorochrome is         cleaved from the probe by the exonuclease activity of the         polymerase resulting in signal dequenching. The probe signalling         method can be more specific than the intercalating dye method,         but in each case, signal strength is proportional to the dsDNA         product produced. Each type of quantification method can be used         in multi-well liquid phase arrays with each well representing         oligonucleotide primers and/or probes specific to nucleic acid         sequences of interest. When used with messenger RNA preparations         of tissues or cell lines, an array of probe/primer reactions can         simultaneously quantify the expression of multiple gene products         of interest. See Germer et al., Genome Res. 10:258-266 (2000);         Heid et al., Genome Res. 6:986-994 (1996). -   (iv) Measurement of altered neoplastic marker protein levels in cell     extracts, for example by immunoassay.     -   Testing for proteinaceous neoplastic marker expression product         in a biological sample can be performed by any one of a number         of suitable methods which are well known to those skilled in the         art. Examples of suitable methods include, but are not limited         to, antibody based screening of tissue sections, biopsy         specimens or bodily fluid samples.     -   To the extent that antibody based methods of diagnosis are used,         the presence of the marker protein may be determined in a number         of ways such as by Western blotting, ELISA or flow cytometry         procedures. These, of course, include both single-site and         two-site or “sandwich” assays of the non-competitive types, as         well as in the traditional competitive binding assays. These         assays also include direct binding of a labelled antibody to a         target.     -   Sandwich assays are among the most useful and commonly used         assays. A number of variations of the sandwich assay technique         exist, and all are intended to be encompassed by the present         invention. Briefly, in a typical forward assay, an unlabelled         antibody is immobilized on a solid substrate and the sample to         be tested brought into contact with the bound molecule. After a         suitable period of incubation, for a period of time sufficient         to allow formation of an antibody-antigen complex, a second         antibody specific to the antigen, labelled with a reporter         molecule capable of producing a detectable signal is then added         and incubated, allowing time sufficient for the formation of         another complex of antibody-antigen-labelled antibody. Any         unreacted material is washed away, and the presence of the         antigen is determined by observation of a signal produced by the         reporter molecule. The results may either be qualitative, by         simple observation of the visible signal, or may be quantitated         by comparing with a control sample. Variations on the forward         assay include a simultaneous assay, in which both sample and         labelled antibody are added simultaneously to the bound         antibody. These techniques are well known to those skilled in         the art, including any minor variations as will be readily         apparent.     -   In the typical forward sandwich assay, a first antibody having         specificity for the marker or antigenic parts thereof, is either         covalently or passively bound to a solid surface. The solid         surface is typically glass or a polymer, the most commonly used         polymers being cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene,         polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. The solid supports may be         in the form of tubes, beads, discs of microplates, or any other         surface suitable for conducting an immunoassay. The binding         processes are well-known in the art and generally consist of         cross-linking, covalently binding or physically adsorbing, the         polymer-antibody complex is washed in preparation for the test         sample. An aliquot of the sample to be tested is then added to         the solid phase complex and incubated for a period of time         sufficient (e.g. 2-40 minutes) and under suitable conditions         (e.g. 25° C.) to allow binding of any subunit present in the         antibody. Following the incubation period, the antibody subunit         solid phase is washed and dried and incubated with a second         antibody specific for a portion of the antigen. The second         antibody is linked to a reporter molecule which is used to         indicate the binding of the second antibody to the antigen.     -   An alternative method involves immobilizing the target molecules         in the biological sample and then exposing the immobilized         target to specific antibody which may or may not be labelled         with a reporter molecule. Depending on the amount of target and         the strength of the reporter molecule signal, a bound target may         be detectable by direct labelling with the antibody.         Alternatively, a second labelled antibody, specific to the first         antibody is exposed to the target-first antibody complex to form         a target-first antibody-second antibody tertiary complex. The         complex is detected by the signal emitted by the reporter         molecule.     -   By “reporter molecule” as used in the present specification, is         meant a molecule which, by its chemical nature, provides an         analytically identifiable signal which allows the detection of         antigen-bound antibody. Detection may be either qualitative or         quantitative. The most commonly used reporter molecules in this         type of assay are either enzymes, fluorophores or radionuclide         containing molecules (i.e. radioisotopes) and chemiluminescent         molecules.     -   In the case of an enzyme immunoassay, an enzyme is conjugated to         the second antibody, generally by means of glutaraldehyde or         periodate. As will be readily recognized, however, a wide         variety of different conjugation techniques exist, which are         readily available to the skilled artisan. Commonly used enzymes         include horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase,         beta-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase, amongst others. The         substrates to be used with the specific enzymes are generally         chosen for the production, upon hydrolysis by the corresponding         enzyme, of a detectable color change. Examples of suitable         enzymes include alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase. It is also         possible to employ fluorogenic substrates, which yield a         fluorescent product rather than the chromogenic substrates noted         above. In all cases, the enzyme-labelled antibody is added to         the first antibody hapten complex, allowed to bind, and then the         excess reagent is washed away. A solution containing the         appropriate substrate is then added to the complex of         antibody-antigen-antibody. The substrate will react with the         enzyme linked to the second antibody, giving a qualitative         visual signal, which may be further quantitated, usually         spectrophotometrically, to give an indication of the amount of         antigen which was present in the sample. “Reporter molecule”         also extends to use of cell agglutination or inhibition of         agglutination such as red blood cells on latex beads, and the         like.     -   Alternately, fluorescent compounds, such as fluorecein and         rhodamine, may be chemically coupled to antibodies without         altering their binding capacity. When activated by illumination         with light of a particular wavelength, the fluorochrome-labelled         antibody adsorbs the light energy, inducing a state to         excitability in the molecule, followed by emission of the light         at a characteristic color visually detectable with a light         microscope. As in the EIA, the fluorescent labelled antibody is         allowed to bind to the first antibody-hapten complex. After         washing off the unbound reagent, the remaining tertiary complex         is then exposed to the light of the appropriate wavelength the         fluorescence observed indicates the presence of the hapten of         interest. Immunofluorescence and EIA techniques are both very         well established in the art and are particularly preferred for         the present method. However, other reporter molecules, such as         radioisotope, chemiluminescent or bioluminescent molecules, may         also be employed. -   (v) Without limiting the present invention to any one theory or mode     of action, during development gene expression is regulated by     processes that alter the availability of genes for expression in     different cell lineages without any alteration in gene sequence, and     these states can be inherited through a cell division—a process     called epigenetic inheritance. Epigenetic inheritance is determined     by a combination of DNA methylation (modification of cytosine to     give 5-methyl cytosine, 5 meC) and by modifications of the histone     chromosomal proteins that package DNA. Thus methylation of DNA at     CpG sites and modifications such as deacetylation of histone H3 on     lysine 9, and methylation on lysine 9 or 27 are associated with     inactive chromatin, while the converse state of a lack of DNA     methylation, acetylation of lysine 9 of histone H3 is associated     with open chromatin and active gene expression. In cancer, this     epigenetic regulation of gene expression is frequently found to be     disrupted (Esteller & Herman, 2000; Jones & Baylin, 2002). Genes     such as tumour suppressor or metastasis suppressor genes are often     found to be silenced by DNA methylation, while other genes may be     hypomethylated and inappropriately expressed. Thus, among genes that     elevated or inappropriate expression in cancer, this in some     instances is characterised by a loss of methylation of the promoter     or regulatory region of the gene.     -   A variety of methods are available for detection of aberrantly         methylated DNA of a specific gene, even in the presence of a         large excess of normal DNA (Clark 2007). Thus, elevated         expression of certain genes may be detected through detection of         the presence of hypomethylated sequences in tissue, bodily fluid         or other patient samples.     -   Epigenetic alterations and chromatin changes in cancer are also         evident in the altered association of modified histones with         specific genes (Esteller, 2007); for example activated genes are         often found associated with histone H3 that is acetylated on         lysine 9 and methylated on lysine 4. The use of antibodies         targeted to altered histones allows for the isolation of DNA         associated with particular chromatin states and has potential         use in cancer diagnosis. -   (vi) Determining altered expression of protein neoplastic markers on     the cell surface, for example by immunohistochemistry. -   (vii) Determining altered protein expression based on any suitable     functional test, enzymatic test or immunological test in addition to     those detailed in points (iv) and (v) above.

A person of ordinary skill in the art could determine, as a matter of routine procedure, the appropriateness of applying a given method to a particular type of biological sample.

Without limiting the present invention in any way, and as detailed above, gene expression levels can be measured by a variety of methods known in the art. For example, gene transcription or translation products can be measured. Gene transcription products, i.e., RNA, can be measured, for example, by hybridization assays, run-off assays, Northern blots, or other methods known in the art.

Hybridization assays generally involve the use of oligonucleotide probes that hybridize to the single-stranded RNA transcription products. Thus, the oligonucleotide probes are complementary to the transcribed RNA expression product. Typically, a sequence-specific probe can be directed to hybridize to RNA or cDNA. A “nucleic acid probe”, as used herein, can be a DNA probe or an RNA probe that hybridizes to a complementary sequence. One of skill in the art would know how to design such a probe such that sequence specific hybridization will occur. One of skill in the art will further know how to quantify the amount of sequence specific hybridization as a measure of the amount of gene expression for the gene was transcribed to produce the specific RNA.

The hybridization sample is maintained under conditions that are sufficient to allow specific hybridization of the nucleic acid probe to a specific gene expression product. “Specific hybridization”, as used herein, indicates near exact hybridization (e.g., with few if any mismatches). Specific hybridization can be performed under high stringency conditions or moderate stringency conditions. In one embodiment, the hybridization conditions for specific hybridization are high stringency. For example, certain high stringency conditions can be used to distinguish perfectly complementary nucleic acids from those of less complementarity. “High stringency conditions”, “moderate stringency conditions” and “low stringency conditions” for nucleic acid hybridizations are explained on pages 2.10.1-2.10.16 and pages 6.3.1-6.3.6 in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel et al., 1998 supra), the entire teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein). The exact conditions that determine the stringency of hybridization depend not only on ionic strength (e.g., 0.2.times.SSC, 0.1.times.SSC), temperature (e.g., room temperature, 42° C., 68° C.) and the concentration of destabilizing agents such as formamide or denaturing agents such as SDS, but also on factors such as the length of the nucleic acid sequence, base composition, percent mismatch between hybridizing sequences and the frequency of occurrence of subsets of that sequence within other non-identical sequences. Thus, equivalent conditions can be determined by varying one or more of these parameters while maintaining a similar degree of identity or similarity between the two nucleic acid molecules. Typically, conditions are used such that sequences at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90% or at least about 95% or more identical to each other remain hybridized to one another. By varying hybridization conditions from a level of stringency at which no hybridization occurs to a level at which hybridization is first observed, conditions that will allow a given sequence to hybridize (e.g., selectively) with the most complementary sequences in the sample can be determined.

Exemplary conditions that describe the determination of wash conditions for moderate or low stringency conditions are described in Kraus, M. and Aaronson, S., 1991. Methods Enzymol., 200:546-556; and in, Ausubel et al. 1998, supra)). Washing is the step in which conditions are usually set so as to determine a minimum level of complementarity of the hybrids. Generally, starting from the lowest temperature at which only homologous hybridization occurs, each ° C. by which the final wash temperature is reduced (holding SSC concentration constant) allows an increase by 1% in the maximum mismatch percentage among the sequences that hybridize. Generally, doubling the concentration of SSC results in an increase in T_(m) of about 17° C. Using these guidelines, the wash temperature can be determined empirically for high, moderate or low stringency, depending on the level of mismatch sought. For example, a low stringency wash can comprise washing in a solution containing 0.2.times.SSC/0.1% SDS for 10 minutes at room temperature; a moderate stringency wash can comprise washing in a pre-warmed solution (42° C.) solution containing 0.2.times.SSC/0.1% SDS for 15 minutes at 42° C.; and a high stringency wash can comprise washing in pre-warmed (68° C.) solution containing 0.1.times.SSC/0.1% SDS for 15 minutes at 68° C. Furthermore, washes can be performed repeatedly or sequentially to obtain a desired result as known in the art. Equivalent conditions can be determined by varying one or more of the parameters given as an example, as known in the art, while maintaining a similar degree of complementarity between the target nucleic acid molecule and the primer or probe used (e.g., the sequence to be hybridized).

A related aspect of the present invention provides a molecular array, which array comprises a plurality of:

-   (i) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence     corresponding to any one or more of the neoplastic marker sequences     hereinbefore described or a sequence exhibiting at least 80%     identity thereto or a functional derivative, fragment, variant or     homologue of said nucleic acid molecule; or -   (ii) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence capable     of hybridising to any one or more of the sequences of (i) under     medium stringency conditions or a functional derivative, fragment,     variant or homologue of said nucleic acid molecule; or -   (iii) nucleic acid probes or oligonucleotides comprising a     nucleotide sequence capable of hybridising to any one or more of the     sequences of (i) under medium stringency conditions or a functional     derivative, fragment, variant or homologue of said nucleic acid     molecule; or -   (iv) probes capable of binding to any one or more of the proteins     encoded by the nucleic acid molecules of (i) or a derivative,     fragment or, homologue thereof     wherein the level of expression of said marker genes of (i) or     proteins of (iv) is indicative of the neoplastic state of a cell or     cellular subpopulation derived from the large intestine.

Preferably, said percent identity is at least 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%.

Low stringency includes and encompasses from at least about 1% v/v to at least about 15% v/v formamide and from at least about 1M to at least about 2M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 1M to at least about 2M salt for washing conditions. Alternative stringency conditions may be applied where necessary, such as medium stringency, which includes and encompasses from at least about 16% v/v at least about 30% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.5M to at least about 0.9M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.5M to at least about 0.9M salt for washing conditions, or high stringency, which includes and encompasses from at least about 31% v/v to at least about 50% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.01M to at least about 0.15M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.01M to at least about 0.15M salt for washing conditions. In general, washing is carried out at T_(m)=69.3+0.41 (G+C) % [19]=−12° C. However, the T_(m) of a duplex DNA decreases by 1° C. with every increase of 1% in the number of mismatched based pairs (Bonner et al (1973) J. Mol. Biol. 81:123).

Preferably, the subject probes are designed to bind to the nucleic acid or protein to which they are directed with a level of specificity which minimises the incidence of non-specific reactivity. However, it would be appreciated that it may not be possible to eliminate all potential cross-reactivity or non-specific reactivity, this being an inherent limitation of any probe based system.

In terms of the probes which are used to detect the subject proteins, they may take any suitable form including antibodies and aptamers.

A library or array of nucleic acid or protein probes provides rich and highly valuable information. Further, two or more arrays or profiles (information obtained from use of an array) of such sequences are useful tools for comparing a test set of results with a reference, such as another sample or stored calibrator. In using an array, individual probes typically are immobilized at separate locations and allowed to react for binding reactions. Oligonucleotide primers associated with assembled sets of markers are useful for either preparing libraries of sequences or directly detecting markers from other biological samples.

A library (or array, when referring to physically separated nucleic acids corresponding to at least some sequences in a library) of hCG_(—)1815491 markers exhibits highly desirable properties. These properties are associated with specific conditions, and may be characterized as regulatory profiles. A profile, as termed here refers to a set of members that provides diagnostic information of the tissue from which the markers were originally derived. A profile in many instances comprises a series of spots on an array made from deposited sequences.

A molecular array, which array comprises a plurality of:

-   -   (i) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence         corresponding to any one or more of the hCG_(—)1815491 markers         as hereinbefore defined or a sequence exhibiting at least 80%         identity thereto or a functional derivative, fragment, variant         or homologue of said nucleic acid molecule; or     -   (ii) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence         capable of hybridising to any one or more of the sequences         of (i) under medium stringency conditions or a functional         derivative, fragment, variant or homologue of said nucleic acid         molecule; or     -   (iii) nucleic acid probes or oligonucleotides comprising a         nucleotide sequence capable of hybridising to any one or more of         the sequences of (i) under medium stringency conditions or a         functional derivative, fragment, variant or homologue of said         nucleic acid molecule; or     -   (iv) probes capable of binding to any one or more of the         proteins encoded by the nucleic acid molecules of (i) or a         derivative, fragment or, homologue thereof     -   wherein the level of expression of said marker genes of (i) or         proteins of (iv) is indicative of the neoplastic state of a cell         or cellular subpopulation derived from the large intestine.

A characteristic patient profile is generally prepared by use of an array. An array profile may be compared with one or more other array profiles or other reference profiles. The comparative results can provide rich information pertaining to disease states, developmental state, receptiveness to therapy and other information about the patient.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a diagnostic kit for assaying biological samples comprising an agent for detecting one or more neoplastic marker reagents useful for facilitating the detection by the agent in the first compartment. Further means may also be included, for example, to receive a biological sample. The agent may be any suitable detecting molecule.

The present invention is further described by the following non-limiting examples:

Example 1 Materials and Methods Extraction of RNA

RNA extractions were performed using Trizol® reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) as per manufacturer's instructions. Each sample was homogenised in 300 μL of Trizol reagent using a modified dremel drill and sterilised disposable pestles. Additional 200 μL of Trizol reagent was added to the homogenate and samples were incubated at RT for 10 minutes. 100 μL of chloroform was then added, samples were shaken vortexed for 15 seconds, and incubated at RT for 3 further minutes. The aqueous phase containing target RNA was obtained by centrifugation at 12,000 rpm for 15 min, 40° C. RNA was then precipitated by incubating samples at RT for 10 min with 250 μL of isopropanol. Purified RNA precipitate was collected by centrifugation at 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes, 40° C. and supernatants were discarded. Pellets were then washed with 1 mL 75% ethanol, followed by vortexing and centrifugation at 7,500 g for 8 min, 40° C. Finally, pellets were air-dried for 5 min and resuspended in 80 μL of RNase free water. To improve subsequent solubility samples were incubated at 55° C. for 10 min. RNA was quantified by measuring the optical density at A260/280 nm. RNA quality was assessed by electrophoresis on a 1.2% agarose formaldehyde gel.

Gene Chip Processing

Gene Chips were processed using the standard Affymetrix protocol developed for the HU Gene ST 1.0 array described in [Affymetrix, 2007]. Briefly: First cycle dsDNA was synthesized from 100 ng of total RNA extract using random hexamer primers tagged with T7 promoter sequence and SuperScript II (Invitrogen, Carlsbad Calif.) and then DNA Polymerase I. Anti-sense cRNA was then synthesized using T7 polymerase and combined with SuperScript II, dUTP (+dNTP), and random hexamers to synthesize sense strand cDNA incorporating uracil. A combination of uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE 1) were used to fragment the DNA product.

Next, the DNA was biotin labelled by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) with the Affymetrix proprietary DNA Labeling Reagent covalently linked to biotin. Hybridization to the Custom Chip CG AGPa520460F was carried out at 45° C. for 16-18 hours. Finally, the chips were washed, stained and scanned as above. All GeneChips analyzed in our lab were stained with streptavidin phycoerytherin and washed with a solution containing biotinylated anti-streptavidin antibodies using the Affymetrix Fluidics Station 450. Finally, the stained and washed microarrays were scanned with the Affymetrix Scanner 3000.

qRT-PCR

Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm particular gene expression discoveries using Applied Biosystems pre-designed and optimized TaqMan gene expression assays. The resulting expression levels were quantified as a ratio to three genes (HPRT, TBP and GAPDH) with literature reported low variance expression levels. Final results were reported using the Δ-cycle threshold method. Prior to Real-time PCR analysis 100 ng of total RNA was subject to linear amplification using the QIAGEN QuantiTect Whole Transcriptome amplification kit (QIAGEN, Country) according to the manufacturer's instructions. 2 μl of the amplified, diluted (1:50) cDNA was then analysed in a 25 μl reaction volume by RT-PCR using TaqMan universal master mix (Applied Biosystems, USA) in an ABI prism 7700 sequence detector (Manufacturer, Country) following manufacturer's protocols.

End-Point PCR

Prior to end-point PCR analysis 2 ug of total RNA was subject to linear amplification a high capacity cDNA reverse transcription kit available from Applied Biosystems. 5 μl of the amplified, diluted (1:2) cDNA was then analysied in a 25 μl reaction volume by PCR using a PCR Master Mix (Promega) according to manufacturer's recommendation. 2.5 μl of the amplified products were analysed on 2% agarose E-gel (Invitrogen) along with a 100-base pair DNA Ladder Marker.

Results

We have explored the nucleotide structure and expression levels of transcripts related to hCG_(—)1815491 based on the identification of diagnostic utility of Affymetrix probesets 238021_s_at and 238022_at from our gene chip analysis.

The gene hCG_(—)1815491 is currently represented in NCBI as a single RefSeq sequence, XM_(—)93911. The RefSeq sequence of hCG_(—)1815491 is based on 89 GenBank accessions from 83 cDNA clones. Prior to March 2006, these clones were predicted to represent two overlapping genes, LOC388279 and LOC650242 (the latter also known as hCG_(—)1815491). In March 2006, the human genome database was filtered against clone rearrangements, co-aligned with the genome and clustered in a minimal non-redundant way. As a result, LOC388272 and LOC650242 were merged into one gene named hCG_(—)1815491 (earlier references to hCG_(—)1815491 are: LOC388279, hCG_(—)1815491, LOC650242, XM_(—)944116, AF275804, XM_(—)373688).

We have determined that SEQ ID NO:1, which is defined by the genomic coordinates 8579310 to 8562303 on human chromosome 16 as defined by the NCBI contig reference NT 010498.15|Hs16_(—)10655, NCBI 36 March 2006 genome encompasses hCG_(—)1815491. We have aligned the 10 predicted RNA variants derived from this gene with the genomic nucleotide sequence residing in the map region 8579310 to 8562303. This alignment analysis revealed the existence of at least 6 exons, of which several are alternatively spliced. The identified 6 exons are in contrast to the just 4 exons specified in the NCBI hCG_(—)1815491 RefSeq XM_(—)93911. We have used the identified and expanded exon-intron structure of hCG_(—)1815491 to design specific oligonucleotide primers, which allowed us to measure the expression of RNA variants generated from SEQ ID NO:1 by using PCR-based methodology.

We have conclusively demonstrated the utility of SEQ ID NO:1 to diagnose neoplasia. In particular, we have identified that SEQ ID NO:1 can be used to diagnose adenomas, benign neoplastic lesions that can lead to colorectal adenocarcinoma. We have also demonstrated that SEQ ID NO:1 can be used to diagnose colorectal cancer itself. We hence claim this molecule for broad clinical utility.

In addition, we have conclusively demonstrated neoplastic-specific expression of some of the RNA variants derived from SEQ ID NO:1. Neoplastic-specific splicing of hCG_(—)1815491 has not previously been reported. In particular, RNA variant SEQ ID NO:21 is by far the most pronounced differentially expressed variant of SEQ ID NO:1, and SEQ ID NO:21 appears to be sensitive and specific for colorectal benign pre-cancerous adenomas as well as colorectal carcinoma. Hence we claim diagnostic utility of SEQ ID NO:21 for detection of colorectal neoplasia.

Lastly, we have identified a novel RNA variant, SEQ ID NO:23, derived from alternative splicing of SEQ ID NO:1. This RNA variant is the result of an unprecedented splicing of map regions 8577328-8576605 and 8573324-8573212. We use this example to claim diagnostic utility of any combinations of nucleotide segments derived from SEQ ID NO:1.

Diagnostic Utility of Oligonucleotide Probesets Directed against hCG_(—)1815491 Using Affymetrix Microarray Genechips

The gene expression of human hCG_(—)1815491 was measured by determining the hybridization of RNA extracted from clinical specimens to Affymetrix oligonucleotide probesets, designated 238021_s_at and 238022_at, FIG. 1. The clinical specimens included a total of 454 colorectal tissues derived from 161 adenocarcinoma, 29 adenoma, 42 colitis and 222 non-diseased subjects

CONCLUSION

We conclude that transcripts derived from the human gene hCG-1815491 have diagnostic utility for identification of colorectal neoplasia.

Diagnostic Utility of SEQ ID NO:1

End-point PCR, using the oligonucleotide sequence primers, 5′-TAACTGGAATTCATGTTGGCTGAAATTCATCCCA (located in SEQ ID NO:6) and 5′-CACGATAAGCTTTTATTATAGTCTATAAACAGGAATACCCAAAACATA TTTAAACC (located in SEQ ID NO:18), was performed to measure the RNA expression level from map region 8573246 to 88567197 within SEQ ID NO:1 in a total of 71 colorectal tissue specimens: 30 non-diseased controls, 21 adenoma tissues and 20 adenocarcinoma tissues, FIG. 2. End-point PCR demonstrated the appearance of four major products that were present in essentially all adenoma and adenocarcinoma colon tissue specimens. Most colon tissue samples from non-disease control specimens produced none or a limited subset of the PCR products. The multiple PCR bands included an approximately 284 base pair product that is the predicted size from the RefSeq NCBI hCG_(—)1815491 entry as well as other bands presumed to arise from alternative splicing.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that SEQ ID NO:1 that contains map region 8573246 to 88567197 has diagnostic utility as means for detection of colorectal neoplasia.

Diagnostic Utility of SEQ ID NO:1 by Measuring Concentration Levels

Quantitative real-time PCR, using the same oligonucleotide sequence primers as described in Example 2,5′-TAACTGG AATTCATGTTGGCTGAAATTCATCCCA and 5′-CACGATAAGCTTTTATTATAGTCTATAAACAGGAATACCCAAAACATA TTTAAACC, was performed to measure the RNA concentration level of SEQ ID NO:1 transcripts derived from map region 8573246 to 88567197 in a total of 71 colorectal tissue specimens: 30 non-diseased controls, 21 adenoma tissues and 20 adenocarcinoma tissues, FIG. 3. The figure shows that most normal tissues expressed low or non-detectable levels of transcripts by contrast to adenoma and adenocarcinoma tissues nearly expressed moderate to high levels of transcripts from SEQ ID NO:1.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that SEQ ID NO:1 that contains map region 8573246 to 88567197 has diagnostic utility as means as detection of colorectal neoplasia.

Diagnostic Utility of RNA Transcript Variants from SEQ ID NO:1

cDNA clones from NCBI/Aceview (Table 4) were used to gather information regarding predicted RNA transcripts derived from hCG_(—)1815491, FIG. 4 & TABLE 1. None of the reported clones were derived from normal or neoplastic colon tissues.

Oligonucleotide sequence primer sets were generated to each of the predicted 10 hCG_(—)1815491 RNA variants (Table 5) and end-point PCR using these primer sets was performed to measure the existence of the ten [10] hCG_(—)1815491 transcript variants in a total of 72 colorectal tissue specimens from 30 non-disease, 21 adenoma and 21 adenocarcinoma subjects.

The differential expression of the 10 predicted RNA transcripts, as determined using transcript specific primers, is exemplified in FIG. 5 and Table 2. Differential expression as measured by end-point PCR was observed for several of the 10 RNA variants (TABLE 2) e.g. SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27 and in particular SEQ ID NO:21 was the best one.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that predicted RNA variants derived from SEQ ID NO:1 exist and they are generated through alternative usage of nucleotide segments in SEQ ID NO:1. We conclude that the presence of several of the RNA variants and specific splicing events, such as represented in SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27 but in particular SEQ ID NO:21, have diagnostic utility for detection of colorectal neoplasia.

Diagnostic Utility of RNA Transcript Variants from SEQ ID NO:1, by Measuring Concentration Levels

Quantitative Real-Time PCR, was performed to measure the concentration level of RNA variants derived from map region 8579310 to 8562303 on the minus strand of human chromosome 16 in a total of 72 colorectal tissue specimens from 30 non-disease controls, 21 adenoma and 21 adenocarcinoma subjects. Quantitative differences were observed for several of the transcripts, and an example of the quantitative expression profile of SEQ ID NO:21 is given in FIG. 6.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that measurement of the RNA concentrations of SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:24 but in particular SEQ ID NO:21 has diagnostic utility for detection of colorectal neoplasia.

Detection of a Novel RNA Variant, SEQ ID NO:23

We hypothesized that the gene contained within SEQ ID NO:1 contained 6 or more exons that were alternatively spliced in multiple combinations in human colorectal tissue. Alignment of the nucleotide sequences of the predicted mRNA variants derived from hCG_(—)1815491 illustrated that the first 184 nucleotides of RNA SEQ ID NO:25, map region 8577328-8576881 in SEQ ID NO:1, and the first 274 nucleotides of RNA SEQ ID NO:21, map region 8576878-8576605 in SEQ ID NO:1, were in fact flanking each other. End-point PCR, using a forward primer spanning the splice junction of SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:5, 5′-GGCGGAGGAGAGGTGAGC, with a reverse primer 5′-GCTGACAGCATCCA AATGTATTATG hybridizing to SEQ ID NO:6 was performed to demonstrate a novel RNA variant derived from alternative splicing of map region 8576892-8576605 with 8573324-8573280, FIG. 7. The novel RNA variant, named SEQ ID NO:23, appeared up-regulated in colorectal tissue specimens from 3 adenoma and 3 adenocarcinoma subjects but not in 2 non-disease controls, FIG. 7.

CONCLUSION

Review of all publicly available data indicates that a nucleotide sequence corresponding the SEQ ID NO:23 has never before been identified. We conclude that SEQ ID NO:23 represents a novel RNA variant derived from SEQ ID NO:1. While new sequence data is common with respect to the human genome project, we have identified that this transcript designated SEQ ID NO:23 is a splice variant diagnostic of colorectal neoplasia.

Diagnostic Utility of Individual Exons of hCG_(—)1815491

Gene expression across the chromosomal map region 8579310 to 8562303 on chromosome 16 was measured by determining the hybridization of RNA extracted from clinical specimens to the Affymetrix oligonucleotide probesets specified in TABLE 3. The observed differential expression of the probesets specified in Table 3 from 5 non-disease subjects, 5 adenoma and 5 adenocarcinoma subjects are summarized in FIG. 8. Details of the differential expression across the 13 probesets are provided in FIG. 9-21. We note that expression was not measured across all predicted exons from SEQ ID NO:1, as the available probesets on the Affymetrix GeneChip HuGene Exon 1.0 only targeted a subset of the predicted exons in SEQ ID NO:1.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the map region 8577414 to 8566289 has diagnostic utility for identification of colorectal neoplasia. In particular, Affymetrix probesets 3692525 (SEQ ID NO:6), 3692524 (SEQ ID NO:9), 3692519 (SEQ ID NO:18), 3692520 (SEQ ID NO:17), 3692523 and 3692522 (SEQ ID NO:15), and 3692521 (SEQ ID NO:13) can be used to diagnose adenomas, benign neoplastic lesions that can lead to colorectal adenocarcinoma. We also conclude that these probesets can be used to diagnose colorectal cancer itself.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.

TABLE 1 LIST OF MOLECULE SEQUENCES Genomic Map SEQUENCE Region-Human ID FIG. 23 Nucleotide sequence Chromosome 16 SEQ ID SEE FIG. 2 8579310- NO: 1 8562303 SEQ ID E2b-E3- gagcccccgcccgggccaggccctctggccgcgccgtccgcccctctagt 8576878- NO: 21 E5a-E6- cgtgtcccctcgtgggccgaacggacgcggcggtgccccgcgcccgacca 8576605 E7a gacgtcccgtgggctagggcctgggcctcgggccgcgtcggcgccggtcg 8573324- agcctctccgggtgtcggggttcggggcgggcgcgcgtgggcgtggctcc 8573212 tctgtccacgcctgttcccttcgtcgccgcggctctcgtccgggacacgg 8571761- ctttccggagtagagcccttggaggtgttaagtgtgatgcttccataata 8571696 catttggatgctgtcagctaagttcacttctgaactaaggggttcctcca 8568521- aatgttggctgaaattcatcccaaggctggtctgcaaagtctgcaattca 8568409 taatggagctactgtactggctattggaaggaggagattctgaagataag 8567320- gaggtaaaacctgtttagaaattaaaaatgagttacgatttaaagaaaat 8566974 tcagatgactcattgtgagtgctagttctcttgtaggatgccactggaaa tgttgaaatgaaaaatattcagccgttggtctttgaaatttcctgtgatg tgtttcaatctagatgcaaagaacatggaaaaatcaaagtgctcgagtgg tttaaatatgttttgggtattcctgtttatagactataatacttttccaa ttaaaatcctcagttgtcacgcagaagaaggttaagctgtatttgattgc cagttttactgaaaatgcttagtattttacagtatcaccaaatatatttt gtttagccaaggtataggaaaaataaaataaattgtataggttgactttt ttctaaaatgtctttattggattgaatgaatgtttatacctgaaaaaaaa aggttcaaaaaaa SEQ ID E2b-E3- Gagcccccgcccgggccaggccctctggccgcgccgtccgcccctctagt 8576878- NO: 22 E5a-E6c- cgtgtcccctcgtgggccgaacggacgcggcggtgccccgcgcccgacca 8576605 E7a gacgtcccgtgggctagggcctgggcctcgggccgcgtcggcgccggtcg 8573324- agcctctccgggtgtcggggttcggggcgggcgcgcgtgggcgtggctcc 8573212 tctgtccacgcctgttcccttcgtcgccgcggctctcgtccgggacacgg 8571761- ctttccggagtagagcccttggaggtgttaagtgtgatgcttccataata 8571696 catttggatgctgtcagctaagttcacttctgaactaaggggttcctcca 8568449- aatgttggctgaaattcatcccaaggctggtctgcaaagtctgcaattca 8568409 taatggagctactgtactggctattggaaggaggagattctgaagataag 8567320- gagttctcttgtaggatgccactggaaatgttgaaatgaaaaatattcag 8566974 ccgttggtctttgaaatttcctgtgatgtgtttcaatctagatgcaaaga acatggaaaaatcaaagtgctcgagtggtttaaatatgttttgggtattc ctgtttatagactataatacttttccaattaaaatcctcagttgtcacgc agaagaaggttaagctgtatttgattgccagttttactgaaaatgcttag tattttacagtatcaccaaatatattttgtttagccaaggtataggaaaa ataaaataaattgtataggttgacttttttctaaaatgtctttattggat tgaatgaatgtttatacctgaaaaaaaaaggttcaaaaaaa SEQ ID E2a-E2b- tctcggcgccagaggggcggggaggggcggggtctcgatcgcgctattgt 8577328- NO: 23 E3 catggagacgggaagctggctgcagcggcggcggggaccgtggggccgag 8576605 gtggctgccagccggccaatgtctaagcgaggcggagcggcccaggcggc 8573324- ccgagcctgggggagcgcgcagccggccagtggcggcctcgccggcggcc 8573212 tcttcccgggctcgcagtaggcccgagtcgtcgccgggagctcctgggag cagcgtccccgccctgctcccctcgctcccgcctcttgcggccccacggc ccctcagcgcccgcccccggctccgcccgccgcagccgcagcccctggcg ctaacggtcggtaacggcccgcgcgcgccgcccgccgggggctcgcgcca gccacgagggagcgtccgcggcccgcgcgcccgcgcggcggaggagaggt gagcccccgcccgggccaggccctctggccgcgccgtccgcccctctagt cgtgtcccctcgtgggccgaacggacgcggcggtgccccgcgcccgacca gacgtcccgtgggctagggcctgggcctcgggccgcgtcggcgccggtcg agcctctccgggtgtcggggttcggggcgggcgcgcgtgggcgtggctcc tctgtccacgcctgttcccttcgtcgccgcggctctcgtccgggacacgg ctttccggagtagagcccttggaggtgttaagtgtgatgcttccataata catttggatgctgtcagctaagttcacttctgaactaaggggttcctcca aatgttggctgaaattcatcccaaggctggtctgcaa SEQ ID E5b-E6- catgctttttgagaagtgtatcatctaggaagaaaatcaaatggagtatt 8571889- NO: 24 E7a ggtaattaaattgtaattccatgaaggaaggaagtggtgcaaaagatgaa 8571696 gctaactattcctgtttttctttttaagagtctgcaattcataatggagc 8568521- tactgtactggctattggaaggaggagattctgaagataaggaggtaaaa 8568409 cctgtttagaaattaaaaatgagttacgatttaaagaaaattcagatgac 8567320- tcattgtgagtgctagttctcttgtaggatgccactggaaatgttgaaat 8566974 gaaaaatattcagccgttggtctttgaaatttcctgtgatgtgtttcaat ctagatgcaaagaacatggaaaaatcaaagtgctcgagtggtttaaatat gttttgggtattcctgtttatagactataatacttttccaattaaaatcc tcagttgtcacgcagaagaaggttaagctgtatttgattgccagttttac tgaaaatgcttagtattttacagtatcaccaaatatattttgtttagcca aggtataggaaaaataaaataaattgtataggttgacttttttctaaaat gtctttattggattgaatgaatgtttatacctgaaaaaaaaaggttcaaa aaaa SEQ ID E2a-E3a tctcggcgccagaggggcggggaggggcggggtctcgatcgcgctattgt 8577328- NO: 25 catggagacgggaagctggctgcagcggcggcggggaccgtggggccgag 8576881 gtggctgccagccggccaatgtctaagcgaggcggagcggcccaggcggc 8573324- ccgagcctgggggagcgcgcagccggccagtggcggcctcgccggcggcc 8573041 tcttcccgggctcgcagtaggcccgagtcgtcgccgggagctcctgggag cagcgtccccgccctgctcccctcgctcccgcctcttgcggccccacggc ccctcagcgcccgcccccggctccgcccgccgcagccgcagcccctggcg ctaacggtcggtaacggcccgcgcgcgccgcccgccgggggctcgcgcca gccacgagggagcgtccgcggcccgcgcgcccgcgcggcggaggagaggt gttaagtgtgatgcttccataatacatttggatgctgtcagctaagttca cttctgaactaaggggttcctccaaatgttggctgaaattcatcccaagg ctggtctgcaagtgagtgtctgcacacagtttgcttgtatgtggagtcga tccaaaatagcatcaatgttggttttaccaaagtatttattattgataat agaggctaagtacaaaatgtagagaatgtcagctacttgaggcctttgat tattaaaaattttattaatgcattaaacaaga SEQ ID E3-E5a- gtgttaagtgtgatgcttccataatacatttggatgctgtcagctaagtt 8573324- NO: 26 E6a-E7a cacttctgaactaaggggttcctccaaatgttggctgaaattcatcccaa 8573212 ggctggtctgcaaagtctgcaattcataatggagctactgtactggctat 8571761- tggaaggaggagattctgaagataaggaggatgccactggaaatgttgaa 8571696 atgaaaaatattcagccgttggtctttgaaatttcctgtgatgtgtttca 8568438- atctagatgcaaagaacatggaaaaatcaaagtgctcgagtggtttaaat 8568409 atgttttgggtattcctgtttatagactataatacttttccaattaaaat 8567320- cctcagttgtcacgcagaagaaggttaagctgtatttgattgccagtttt 8566974 actgaaaatgcttagtattttacagtatcaccaaatatattttgtttagc caaggtataggaaaaataaaataaattgtataggttgacttttttctaaa atgtctttattggattgaatgaatgtttatacctgaaaaaaaaaggttca aaaaaa SEQ ID E2a-E3- tctcggcgccagaggggcggggaggggcggggtctcgatcgcgctattgt 8577328- NO: 27 E4-E5a- catggagacgggaagctggctgcagcggcggcggggaccgtggggccgag 8576881 E6-E7a gtggctgccagccggccaatgtctaagcgaggcggagcggcccaggcggc 8573324- ccgagcctgggggagcgcgcagccggccagtggcggcctcgccggcggcc 8573212 tcttcccgggctcgcagtaggcccgagtcgtcgccgggagctcctgggag 8572798- cagcgtccccgccctgctcccctcgctcccgcctcttgcggccccacggc 8572712 ccctcagcgcccgcccccggctccgcccgccgcagccgcagcccctggcg 8571761- ctaacggtcggtaacggcccgcgcgcgccgcccgccgggggctcgcgcca 8571696 gccacgagggagcgtccgcggcccgcgcgcccgcgcggcggaggagaggt 8568521- gttaagtgtgatgcttccataatacatttggatgctgtcagctaagttca 8568409 cttctgaactaaggggttcctccaaatgttggctgaaattcatcccaagg 8567320- ctggtctgcattacctatttcttttaagaataaatttagtgggaatatca 8566974 gttccagtcatgggtaccaaacttttttagtgacagagtacacacagagt ctgcaattcataatggagctactgtactggctattggaaggaggagattc tgaagataaggaggtaaaacctgtttagaaattaaaaatgagttacgatt taaagaaaattcagatgactcattgtgagtgctagttctcttgtaggatg ccactggaaatgttgaaatgaaaaatattcagccgttggtctttgaaatt tcctgtgatgtgtttcaatctagatgcaaagaacatggaaaaatcaaagt gctcgagtggtttaaatatgttttgggtattcctgtttatagactataat acttttccaattaaaatcctcagttgtcacgcagaagaaggttaagctgt atttgattgccagttttactgaaaatgcttagtattttacagtatcacca aatatattttgtttagccaaggtataggaaaaataaaataaattgtatag gttgacttttttctaaaatgtctttattggattgaatgaatgtttatacc tgaaaaaaaaaggttcaaaaaaa SEQ ID E6e tgataagcaacatccaaatattttgaccctgcttttagtggtttttttca 8569201- NO: 28 aatcttattttgagtcttacttttagtcatagaatagctactgatttgat 8566974 unspliced gcggtctttaactgacttaatatttttacaatttcaatatattttgcatt ggaatctccagtaatgaatattaaaatatatgtacaatcatttgtagatg atatcaattatattaagacatttcagatgggctattgtagtatttaatgt gccgtattttatggtagaataattctcagtctctggacatcaagattgct ttcagtgggaatgaagattaatttacttcagtcctgattttttaggcatc aatgcatgttttcatttttgtcagacttttaccctcttttaatgtaattc tcaacttcttatggatttacttcccaatacataaaatccttcaaaacaag aatgataataatttttatactttttataaaaataaatttatttttagtcc atcaaggtgtctgaagattttatgcctaggtatctccatatctaacttga taaggaaaataggataaacaatgctggtaatagcaggaaagtaagtattt gaataagatgtcaaactgatatttcatgtgaacctaactcattttatggt aactaataattatcttatttaaatcaataggtaaaacctgtttagaaatt aaaaatgagttacgatttaaagaaaattcagatgactcattgtgagtgct agttctcttgtaggatgccactggaaatgttgaaatgaaaaatgtaagta tatcttttggtggaaaaaaggatagtctctaggacacaaaattactgttt tatttttttctcaggagtttgcctaagggtgtgacagatgatctctgtca cttgtcttagttgtgtcctgcaataaactggatgctttataaaatactag acctgtgatttcgtatgctgtaatatttcatttctccatcacccctccaa attatttcttagtttggagtaaaataataaatgtattatagtcaacatct cttgacccctctttagtttcagctaaactaagcatgtgtgtttgtgtgtt cattttatagttcatgtgtagaactatgtgaattaaatttaagaaacatg taaagtagaggaaatagttttctggagaaatttttcctttttggatatta tgcccttttccattgcttttctctgcttgaaagcaaaaaaaagtacccta cccctgttctcctttagggaaaaactattcctataaagtatttttaaatc gtgcaagtcattgcctagggttagctaaaacatttctttttaaaaaggag aaaatgccctggctttaacattttcttgtatttgtatctattaagataaa cagtttactttgatacagtacataccaatctacttaattttttttccagg attccttttactatgtttggtctgaccttttatgataacttaatatggga acaaattagcatataattctattttccatgtgacctcaaccagttgcaga attgtaccactactttagggggggcaatttgacagtttatgtagactata gcattaattgttcccaaatgttcagtgcatcctggctaatgtgttattga aggtgttttcacgtaagcagttagaggaagcacttcacccctattactaa gttattaaaatgcctcctaaaggtagcattttaaattagtatacataatt gattagtaatttgtcttctcccaagcataaaacagcatagcagagttaag tgtgaccagtgaagtataagatattagggattgatggtgacaatgatcat agcaactaaatggattttttttttcttttagattcagccgttggtctttg aaatttcctgtgatgtgtttcaatctagatgcaaagaacatggaaaaatc aaagtgctcgagtggtttaaatatgttttgggtattcctgtttatagact ataatacttttccaattaaaatcctcagttgtcacgcagaagaaggttaa gctgtatttgattgccagttttactgaaaatgcttagtattttacagtat caccaaatatattttgtttagccaaggtataggaaaaataaaataaattg tataggttgacttttttctaaaatgtctttattggattgaatgaatgttt atacctgaaaaaaaaaggttcaaaaaaat SEQ ID E6d-E7a tttaatagaaggaaaatataaatttaatatctgggcaattgagaccttta 8570158- NO: 29 aacttactttaaaagtatgatcttgatgtatatgatactgttttgtcttt 8568409 gctatattaacagaattagaggggtgttctgcaattcaaataccttatat 8567320- attccaaattttattctctataatggacttttaaaataaaaggtatatgt 8566974 gcttcaagagggcaaaatttgaatcatgagctaatttgctaagcatcaga ttatagaaaagcatccttgattaatttggaactgtgaaagggggcgggta aaactgttttctgcagaaatttactagtgcagcaaccatttaaattaaat gtttgttaacataatagtgatggcattttctcctccccctccttgtggtt ttgtccaactagatgttacagtggcagttgcactgactgttaagtgttta aatgatgacaccattatgtgaagtgattttgaaatgagagattccagcca agaattacatctgctcccatctccttcaaatcatactctctggcagtaca gattatgattgatttgtttgtgacagattgcaggaaacagtcattgattt ttcaatattttaccttaaaattatttacagttgtaaccatggggaggtat tttcatgggctgtcagcccctgaaagactaggataatattccctgctctc tgacaagacaaattacctgtaatgagtgcagtagctgaagggtatacttt tattttaaaatatgtcaataaccccagtgactaaacgaatattgatttag cataatgaagcctgagtaacgtgaaaatgagctttttcaaggggcatggt aaagtctttctttttagctggttgtaagaagcttttgattcttttcagcc agctggtaggaatatagaattttataagcaaaccatcaggaatgatagtg ttgtttctgataagcaacatccaaatattttgaccctgcttttagtggtt tttttcaaatcttattttgagtcttacttttagtcatagaatagctactg atttgatgcggtctttaactgacttaatatttttacaatttcaatatatt ttgcattggaatctccagtaatgaatattaaaatatatgtacaatcattt gtagatgatatcaattatattaagacatttcagatgggctattgtagtat ttaatgtgccgtattttatggtagaataattctcagtctctggacatcaa gattgctttcagtgggaatgaagattaatttacttcagtcctgatttttt aggcatcaatgcatgttttcatttttgtcagacttttaccctcttttaat gtaattctcaacttcttatggatttacttcccaatacataaaatccttca aaacaagaatgataataatttttatactttttataaaaataaatttattt ttagtccatcaaggtgtctgaagattttatgcctaggtatctccatatct aacttgataaggaaaataggataaacaatgctggtaatagcaggaaagta agtatttgaataagatgtcaaactgatatttcatgtgaacctaactcatt ttatggtaactaataattatcttatttaaatcaataggtaaaacctgttt agaaattaaaaatgagttacgatttaaagaaaattcagatgactcattgt gagtgctagttctcttgtaggatgccactggaaatgttgaaatgaaaaat attcagccgttggtctttgaaatttcctgtgatgtgtttcaatctagatg caaagaacatggaaaaatcaaagtgctcgagtggtttaaatatgttttgg gtattcctgtttatagactataatacttttccaattaaaatcctcagttg tcacgcagaagaaggttaagctgtatttgattgccagttttactgaaaat gcttagtattttacagtatcaccaaatatattttgtttagccaaggtata ggaaaaataaaataaattgtataggttgacttttttctaaaatgtcttta ttggattgaatgaatgtttatacctgaaaaaaaaaggttcaaaaaaa SEQ ID E2a-E3- tctcggcgccagaggggcggggaggggcggggtctcgatcgcgctattgt 8577328- NO: 30 E5-E7 catggagacgggaagctggctgcagcggcggcggggaccgtggggccgag 8576881 gtggctgccagccggccaatgtctaagcgaggcggagcggcccaggcggc 8573324- ccgagcctgggggagcgcgcagccggccagtggcggcctcgccggcggcc 8573212 tcttcccgggctcgcagtaggcccgagtcgtcgccgggagctcctgggag 8571761- cagcgtccccgccctgctcccctcgctcccgcctcttgcggccccacggc 8571392 ccctcagcgcccgcccccggctccgcccgccgcagccgcagcccctggcg 8567576- ctaacggtcggtaacggcccgcgcgcgccgcccgccgggggctcgcgcca 8566974 gccacgagggagcgtccgcggcccgcgcgcccgcgcggcggaggagaggt gttaagtgtgatgcttccataatacatttggatgctgtcagctaagttca cttctgaactaaggggttcctccaaatgttggctgaaattcatcccaagg ctggtctgcaaagtctgcaattcataatggagctactgtactggctattg gaaggaggagattctgaagataaggaggtaatattatctcttttaaaaga atactttcctctgtaatcctgaatctttattacatgtaagaactttgtgc agtagacagcaatttctttgaatttggtatatggaaacaattttattttc ctctgctaagtttttgagcctgcctcttctagtgccatggactgcattgg tagagctgagaaatatcatttagccatactcagcacccttaaaatagctt ctttctgagaattagatctgtgaaggtgtcctgcacagttcttgtagatg tcattttagtttgtggttgacgtgcatgcattgcatcctggctaatgtgt tattgaaggtgttttcacgtaagcagttagaggaagcacttcacccctat tactaagttattaaaatgcctcctaaaggtagcattttaaattagtatac ataattgattagtaatttgtcttctcccaagcataaaacagcatagcaga gttaagtgtgaccagtgaagtataagatattagggattgatggtgacaat gatcatagcaactaaatggattttttttttcttttagattcagccgttgg tctttgaaatttcctgtgatgtgtttcaatctagatgcaaagaacatgga aaaatcaaagtgctcgagtggtttaaatatgttttgggtattcctgttta tagactataatacttttccaattaaaatcctcagttgtcacgcagaagaa ggttaagctgtatttgattgccagttttactgaaaatgcttagtatttta cagtatcaccaaatatattttgtttagccaaggtataggaaaaataaaat aaattgtataggttgacttttttctaaaatgtctttattggattgaatga atgtttatacctgaaaaaaaaaggttcaaaaaaa SEQ ID E2a-E3- tctcggcgccagaggggcggggaggggcggggtctcgatcgcgctattgt 8577328- NO: 31 E5a-E6- catggagacgggaagctggctgcagcggcggcggggaccgtggggccgag 8576881 E7a gtggctgccagccggccaatgtctaagcgaggcggagcggcccaggcggc 8573324- ccgagcctgggggagcgcgcagccggccagtggcggcctcgccggcggcc 8573212 tcttcccgggctcgcagtaggcccgagtcgtcgccgggagctcctgggag 8571761- cagcgtccccgccctgctcccctcgctcccgcctcttgcggccccacggc 8571696 ccctcagcgcccgcccccggctccgcccgccgcagccgcagcccctggcg 8568521- ctaacggtcggtaacggcccgcgcgcgccgcccgccgggggctcgcgcca 8568409 gccacgagggagcgtccgcggcccgcgcgcccgcgcggcggaggagaggt 8567320- gttaagtgtgatgcttccataatacatttggatgctgtcagctaagttca 8566974 cttctgaactaaggggttcctccaaatgttggctgaaattcatcccaagg ctggtctgcaaagtctgcaattcataatggagctactgtactggctattg gaaggaggagattctgaagataaggaggtaaaacctgtttagaaattaaa aatgagttacgatttaaagaaaattcagatgactcattgtgagtgctagt tctcttgtaggatgccactggaaatgttgaaatgaaaaatattcagccgt tggtctttgaaatttcctgtgatgtgtttcaatctagatgcaaagaacat ggaaaaatcaaagtgctcgagtggtttaaatatgttttgggtattcctgt ttatagactataatacttttccaattaaaatcctcagttgtcacgcagaa gaaggttaagctgtatttgattgccagttttactgaaaatgcttagtatt ttacagtatcaccaaatatattttgtttagccaaggtataggaaaaataa aataaattgtataggttgacttttttctaaaatgtctttattggattgaa tgaatgtttatacctgaaaaaaaaaggttcaaaaaaa

TABLE 2 SUMMARY OF END-POINT PCR BASED MEASUREMENT OF PREDICTED RNA VARIANTS DERIVED FROM SEQ ID NO: 1 Non-diseased Controls Adenoma Adenocarcinoma SEQ ID NO: 21 3 positive out of 30 19 positive out of 21 20 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 23 0 positive out of 2 3 positive out of 3 3 positive out of 3 SEQ ID NO: 24 1 positive out of 30 15 positive out of 21 5 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 27 1 positive out of 30 11 positive out of 21 11 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 22 1 positive out of 30 6 positive out of 21 8 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 29 8 positive out of 30 18 positive out of 21 20 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 28 12 positive out of 30 18 positive out of 21 18 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 30 16 positive out of 30 20 positive out of 21 21 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 31 16 positive out of 30 21 positive out of 21 21 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 25 19 positive out of 30 20 positive out of 21 21 positive out of 21 SEQ ID NO: 26 19 positive out of 30 20 positive out of 21 21 positive out of 21

TABLE 3 AFFYMETRIX HuGene Exon 1.0 PROBESETS TARGETING NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCES IN SEQ ID NO: 1 PROBESET SEQ ID NO: 79 ID TARGET SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO: 76 3692517 taaaatgtctttattggattgaatgaatgtttatacctga SEQ ID NO: 77 3692518 aggttaagctgtatttgattgccagttttactgaaaatgcttagtattttacagtatc accaaatata SEQ ID NO: 78 3692519  aaatttcctgtgatgtgtttcaatctagatgcaaagaacatggaaaaatcaaagtgct cgagtggtttaaatatgttttgggtattcctgtttatagactataatacttttccaat taaaatcctcagttgtcacgcaga SEQ ID NO: 79 3692520  gcctaagggtgtgacagatgatctctgtcacttgtcttagttgtgtcctgcaataaac tggatgctttataaaatactagacctgtgatttcgtatgctgtaatatttcatttctc catcacccctccaaattatttcttagtttggagtaaaataataaatgtattatagtca acatctcttgacccctctttagtttcagctaaactaagcatgtgtgtttgtgtgttca ttttatagttcatgtgtagaactatgtgaattaaatttaagaaacatgtaaagtagag gaaatagttttctggagaaatttttcctttttggatattatgcccttttccattgctt ttctctgcttgaaagcaaaaaaaagtaccctacccctgttctcctttagggaaaaact attcctataaagtatttttaaatcgtgcaagtcattgcctagggttagctaaaacatt tctttttaaaaaggagaaaatgccctggctttaacattttcttgtatttgtatctatt aagataaacagtttactttgatacagtacataccaatctacttaattttttttccagg attccttttactatgtttggtctgaccttttatgataacttaatatgggaacaaatta gcatataattctattttccatgtgacctcaaccagttgcagaattgtaccactacttt agggggggcaatttgacagtttatgtagactatagcattaattgttcccaaatgttca gtgcatcctggctaatgtgttattgaaggtgttttcacgtaagcagttagaggaagca cttc SEQ ID NO: 80 3692521  gatgccactggaaatgttgaaatgaaaaat SEQ ID NO: 81 3692522  gaaaattcagatgactcattgtgagtgctagttc SEQ ID NO: 82 3692523  ttcaaggggcatggtaaagtctttctttttagctggttgtaagaagcttttgattctt ttcagccagctggtaggaatatagaattttataagcaaaccatcaggaatgatagtgt tgtttctgataagcaacatccaaatattttgaccctgcttttagtggtttttttcaaa tcttattttgagtcttacttttagtcatagaatagctactgatttgatgcggtcttta actgacttaatatttttacaatttcaatatattttgcattggaatctccagtaatgaa tattaaaatatatgtacaatcatttgtagatgatatcaattatattaagacatttcag atgggctattgtagtatttaatgtgccgtattttatggtagaataattctcagtctct ggacatcaagattgctttcagtgggaatgaagattaatttacttcagtcctgattttt taggcatcaatgcatgttttcatttttgtcagacttttaccctcttttaatgtaattc tcaacttcttatggatttacttcccaatacataaaatccttcaaaacaagaatgataa taatttttatactttttataaaaataaatttatttttagtccatcaaggtgtctg SEQ ID NO: 83 3692524  gcaattcataatggagctactgtactggctattgga SEQ ID NO: 84 3692525  gtgtgatgcttccataatacatttggatgctgtcagctaagttcacttctgaactaag gggttcctccaaatgttggctgaaattcatcccaaggctggtctgc SEQ ID NO: 85 3692526  ccgaccagacgtcccgtgggctagggcctgggcctcgggccgcgtcggcgccggtcga gcctctccgggtgtcggggttcggggcgggcgcgcgtgggcgtggctcctctgtccac gcctgttcccttcgtcgccgcggctctcgtccgggacacggctttccggagtagagcc ctt SEQ ID NO: 86 3692527  aggtggctgccagccggccaatgtctaagcgaggcggagcggcccaggcggcccgagc ctgggggagcgcgcagccggccagtggcggcctcgccggcggcctcttcccgggctcg cagtaggcccgagtcgtcgccgggagctcctgggagcagcgtccccgccctgctcccc tcgctcccgcctcttgcggccccacggcccctcagcgcccgcccccggctccgcccgc cgcagccgcagcccctggcgctaacggtcggtaacggcccgcgcgcgccgcccgccgg gggctcgcgccagccacgagggagcgtc SEQ ID NO: 87 3692505  ggcctgagcggttcagactacattctccgagagcccctgggtccgcccagcccagtgc ctgacacctccttcacctatgattgggcgctggcct SEQ ID NO: 88 3692504 gtatagcacagcatcacaacctggatactgacattgatgcagtcaagacagagaacat ttatatcatgaggaggatccctcattaccgccctttgatatccacccctacttccaga ccatctcactcctcccttaaccctggcaaccactagcatgttctccatttctataaat ttgcctttataggaatgttatataattgcaattaaagtgtgtaaccttttggggtttg actcacccggcatcattttctggagattcagcttatatgtgtca

TABLE 4 hCG_1815491 cDNA clones DB455235 DB347418 BU590179 AI827680 BQ638202 AA581577 AI004404 BX096724 BM920423 AW173121 DB222387 W38547 CN278390 BF436749 BM151589 CN278219 LOC388279 BU737152 DB349477 AA928654 XM_373688 CA313804 BF692451 AI985612 AI245732 H89247 BI561324 BQ011371 AW023444 BE246152 DB452125 AI804090 BM696001 BI497216 BU165627 AI342725 BU729242 DB145524 BU165662 AW975944 LOC650242 DB143311 BU569024 AA746740 XM_644116 DA828150 BF672570 BU689926 DB446128 CN289138 BU160166 BG193316 DB175550 CN292893 AW117234 AA625672 BM698708 CV372409 DB517664 AI214681 BI768666 BF912258 CB854553 DW420944 CD356299 BE000458 AI923595 N90090 CN288533 CD000458 AA825162 CV575277 CN275915 AI903846 BU180741 BU625145 CA436924 BM150430 BG720116 DB520645 BF679396 DB372595 BE504515 AV725613 CB217500 AA829347 AF275804 BQ002970 AI242819 AI204177 AA844729 AA954994 BM974647

TABLE 5 OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PRIMERS Genomic map regions Primer (start of  nucleotide sequence  primer) Amplicon sequence confirmation 5′- TAACTGGAATTCATGTTGGC TGAAATTCATCCCA 8573248=> MULTIPLE AMPLICONS GENERATED. 5′- CACGATAAGCTTTTATTATA GTCTATAAACAGGA ATACCCAAAACATATTTAA ACC <=88567198 5′- ACACGGCTTTCCGGAGTAGA   5′- AACAGGTTTTACCTCCTTAT CTTCAGAA 8576635=>     <=8571695// 8568521- 8568509

5′- ACACGGCTTTCCGGAGTAGA   5′- GGCATCCTACAAGAGAACT CCTTATC 8576635=>     <=8571695// 8568449- 8568433

5′- GGCGGAGGAGAGGTGAGC 5′-GCTGACAGCATCCA AATGTATTATG 8576892=>   <=8573280

5′- TTTTTGAGAAGTGTATCATC TAGGAAGAA 5′- ACATATTTAAACCACTCGA GCACTTTG 8571884- 8571856   <=8567253- 8567226

5′- CAGCCACGAGGGAGCGT   5′- GGATCGACTCCACATACAA GCA 8576931=>     <=8573192- 8573170

5′- ATGTTGGCTGAAATTCATCC CA 5′- TTCCAGTGGCATCCTCCTTA TC 8573247=>     <=8571696// 8568437- 8568425

5′- ATGTTGGCTGAAATTCATCC CA 5′- TCTGTGTGTACTCTGTCACT AAAAAAGTTT 8573247=>     <=8572712

5′- TAAGATATTAGGGATTGAT GGTGACAA 5′- ACATATTTAAACCACTCGA GCACTTTG 8567385=>     <=8567226

5′- TGCCTAGGTATCTCCATATC TAACTTGA 5′- ACATATTTAAACCACTCGA GCACTTTG 8568679=>     <=8567226

5′- ATGTTGGCTGAAATTCATCC CA 5′- TGCTGAGTATGGCTAAATG ATATTTCTC 8573247=>   <=8571488

5′-CAGCCACGAGGGAGCGT     5′- AACAGGTTTTACCTCCTTAT CTTCAGAA 8568679=>     <=8571695// 8568521- 8568510

BIBLIOGRAPHY

-   Alon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA: 96, 6745-6750, June 1999 -   Ausubel, F. et al., “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, John     Wiley & Sons, (1998) -   Bonner et al (1973) J. Mol. Biol. 81:123 -   DeRisi, et al., Nature Genetics 14:457-460 (1996) -   Germer et al., Genome Res. 10:258-266 (2000) -   Guo et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 22:5456-5465 (1994) -   Heid et al., Genome Res. 6:986-994 (1996) -   Kraus, M. and Aaronson, S., 1991. Methods Enzymol., 200:546-556 -   Maskos and Southern, Nuc. Acids Res. 20:1679-84, 1992 -   Moore et al., BBA, 1402:239-249, 1988 -   Nielsen (1999) Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 10:71-75 -   Nielsen et al. (1991) Science 254: 1497-1500 -   Pease et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91(11):5022-5026 (1994) -   Pevzner et al., J. Biomol. Struc. & Dyn. 9:399-410, 1991 -   Schena, et al. Science 270:467-470 (1995) -   Smith et al., Science 258:1122-1126 (1992) -   T. Sano and C. R. Cantor, Bio/Technology 9:1378-81 (1991) -   Urdea et al., Nucleic Acids Symp. Ser., 24:197-200 (1991) -   Wedemeyer et al., Clinical Chemistry 48:9 1398-1405, 2002) -   Weissleder et al., Nature Medicine 6:351-355, 2000 

1. A method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm, or monitoring the progress of a neoplasm, in an individual, said method comprising: (i) measuring the level of expression of hCG_(—)1815491 in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of hCG_(—)1815491 or variant thereof relative to control levels is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state; or (ii) measuring the level of expression of a gene comprising a sequence of nucleotides as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity to SEQ ID NO:1 across the length of the gene, or variant of SEQ ID NO:1, in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of said gene or variant thereof relative to control levels is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The method according to claim 1 said method comprising measuring the level of expression of one or more mRNA transcripts, which transcripts comprise an RNA sequence selected from: (i) an RNA sequence characterized by the sequence of one of: SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; SEQ ID NO:23, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; SEQ ID NO:25, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25; SEQ ID NO:26, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:26; SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; SEQ ID NO:28, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:28; SEQ ID NO:29, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:29; SEQ ID NO:30, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; or SEQ ID NO:31, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31 (ii) an RNA sequence characterized by the sequence of one of: SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; SEQ ID NO:23, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; SEQ ID NO:30, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; SEQ ID NO:31, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31; SEQ ID NO:25, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25. (iii) an RNA sequence characterized by the sequence of one of: SEQ ID NO:21, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; SEQ ID NO:27, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; SEQ ID NO:22, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. A method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of an RNA transcript, which transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from: (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:2, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:2; (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:3, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:3 (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:4; (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:5; (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:6; (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:7; (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:8; (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:9; (ix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:10; (x) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:11; (xi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:12 (xii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:13 (xiii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:14 (xiv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:15, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:15 (xv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:16, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:16 (xvi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:17, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:17 (xvii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:18 (xviii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:19, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:19; or (xix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:20, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:20 in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of said RNA transcript or variant thereof relative to control levels is indicative of a neoplastic large intestine cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.
 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from: (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:3, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:3 (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:4; (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:5; (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:6; (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:7; (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:8; (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:9; or (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:10; (ix) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:11; (x) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:12; (xi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:13; (xii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:14; (xiii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:15, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:15; (xiv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:18; (xv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:19, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:19
 8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said transcript is selected from: (i) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12; (ii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14; (iii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:6; (iv) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID NO:18; (v) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:7; (vi) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:13, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:13; (vii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8; (viii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:18; (ix) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:18; (x) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:9; or (xi) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12.
 9. The method according to claim 6 wherein said transcript comprises one or more exon segments selected from: (i) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:5; (ii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:6; (iii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:8; (iv) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:10; (v) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:11, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:11; (vi) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO: 12, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:12; (vii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:14; or (viii) an exon segment defined by SEQ ID NO:18, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:18.
 10. The method according to claim 7 wherein said transcript is selected from: (i) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12; (ii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:14; (iii) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID NO:24, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID NO:24; or (iv) an RNA transcript which comprises each of the exon segments defined by SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of these sequences, or variants of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8.
 11. The method according to claims 1 or 6 wherein the exon segments of said transcripts are spliced such that they are joined.
 12. A method of screening for the onset or predisposition to the onset of a large intestine neoplasm in an individual, said method comprising measuring the level of expression of one or more RNA transcripts, which transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of: (i) SEQ ID NO:21 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; (ii) SEQ ID NO:24 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; (iii) SEQ ID NO:25 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:25; (iv) SEQ ID NO:26 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:26; (v) SEQ ID NO:27 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; (vi) SEQ ID NO:29 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:29; (vii) SEQ ID NO:30 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:30; or (viii) SEQ ID NO:31 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:31; in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of the genes or transcripts of group (i) and/or group (ii) relative to background levels is indicative of a neoplastic cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.
 13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said transcripts comprise an RNA sequence characterised by the sequence of one of: (i) SEQ ID NO:21 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:21; (ii) SEQ ID NO:22 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:22; (iii) SEQ ID NO:23 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:23; (iv) SEQ ID NO:24 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:24; or (v) SEQ ID NO:27 or a sequence having at least 90% similarity across the length of the sequence, or variant of SEQ ID NO:27; in a biological sample from said individual wherein a higher level of expression of the genes or transcripts of group (i) and/or group (ii) relative to background levels is indicative of a neoplastic cell or a cell predisposed to the onset of a neoplastic state.
 14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said RNA sequences are characterised by the sequence of either SEQ ID NO:21 or SEQ ID NO:22.
 15. The method according to any one of claims 1, 6 or 12 wherein said level of expression is mRNA expression.
 16. The method according to any one of claims 1, 6 or 12 wherein said at least 90% similarity is 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%.
 17. The method according to any one of claims 1, 6 or 12 wherein said level of expression is assessed by analysing RNA expression or protein expression.
 18. (canceled)
 19. The method according to any one of claims 1, 6 or 12 wherein said control level is a non-neoplastic level.
 20. The method according to any one of claims 1, 6 or 12 wherein said neoplastic cell is an adenoma or adenocarcinoma.
 21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said cell is a colorectal cell.
 22. The method according to any one of claims 1, 6 or 12 wherein said individual is a human.
 23. A molecular array, which array comprises: (i) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence corresponding to any one or more of the hCG_(—)1815491 sequences described in claims 1 or 6 or a sequence exhibiting at least 90% identity thereto or a functional derivative, fragment, variant or homologue of said nucleic acid molecule; or (ii) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridising to any one or more of the sequences of (i) under medium stringency conditions or a functional derivative, fragment, variant or homologue of said nucleic acid molecule; or (iii) nucleic acid probes or oligonucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridising to any one or more of the sequences of (i) under medium stringency conditions or a functional derivative, fragment, variant or homologue of said nucleic acid molecule; or (iv) probes capable of binding to any one or more of the proteins encoded by the nucleic acid molecules of (i) or a derivative, fragment or homologue thereof wherein the level of expression of said marker genes of (i) or proteins of (iv) is indicative of the neoplastic state of a cell or cellular subpopulation derived from the large intestine.
 24. A diagnostic kit for assaying biological samples comprising an agent for detecting one or more neoplastic markers as defined in claim 1 or 6 and reagents useful for facilitating the detection of said agent. 